Profiles of Emerging Adult Online Daters and Psychosocial Cognitions about Condom Use

Abstract

Online dating provides emerging adults with a way of connecting with \nothers more frequently and efficiently than traditional courtship. Online \ndating sites pose opportunities for relationships and sexual encounters, which \nmay be accompanied by engagement in sexual risk behaviors, such as lack of \ncondom use. The present study used the theory of planned behavior to explore \npsychosocial cognitions (i.e. constructs) about condom use among online daters. \nThe sample size consisted of N = 156 emerging adults (Mage = 20.6) \nwho participated in an online survey of health behaviors and sexual risk. Using \nattitudes, subjective norms, and self-efficacy about condom use, latent class analysis identified four latent \nclasses: Consistent Condom Users (17%), Inconsistent Condom Users with Low Dating Site Usage (23%), Inconsistent Condom Users with High Dating Site Usage (40%), and Consistent Condom Non-Users (20%). Consistent Condom Non-Users \nhad the highest probability of utilizing dating sites 2+ hours per day, the \nhighest probability of low self-efficacy and low subjective norms about condom \nuse, and a zero probability of using a condom. Inconsistent Condom Users with \nLow Dating Site Usage and Inconsistent Condom Users with High Dating Site Usage \nvaried in their attitudes and self-efficacy toward condom use. Consistent \nCondom Users were low on dating site usage, high on all psychosocial \nconstructs, and had a 100% probability of using a condom. Results highlight the \nneed to further explore interventions throughout college campuses and online within \ndating sites, to strengthen attitudes, subjective norms, and self-efficacy \ntoward condom use among online dating emerging adults.