Hypersexual Behavior and Depression Symptoms among Dating App users

Abstract: The use of Dating Applications (DAs) is widespread, and in some cases could be associated
with psychosexological issues. Hence, we decided to investigate hypersexual behavior and
depression symptoms among DA users and non-users. We recruited a snowball convenience sample
of 1000 subjects through an online platform in 2020 for a cross-sectional study. One hundred and
nineteen (11.9%) were classified as DA users and 881 as non-users. All subjects completed a sociodemographic
questionnaire, the Hypersexual Behavior Inventory (HBI), to assess hypersexuality, and
the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to evaluate depression symptoms. We primarily found
higher levels of hypersexual behavior and depression symptoms in DA users compared to non-users.
In particular, HBI Total (users = 42.27 16.37 vs. non-users = 31.85 12.06; p < 0.0001), HBI Coping
(users = 17.92 8.01 vs. non-users = 13.52 6.03; p < 0.0001),HBI Control (users = 14.73 6.68 vs. nonusers
= 10.71 4.95; p < 0.0001), HBI Consequences (users = 9.62 4.33 vs. non-users = 7.60 3.37;
p < 0.0001), PHQ-9 Depression (users = 12.82 6.64 vs. nonusers = 10.05 5.84; p < 0.0001). On the
whole, we found that hypersexual behavior and depression symptoms strongly characterize DAs users;
this evidence could represent an important associated factor in DA use for sexual purposes.