Development and validation of the Problematic Dating App Use Scale (PRODAS): First results from a sexual minority cohort

Background

With over 366 million global users, geo-location-based online dating applications are gaining increasing popularity, raising concerns about their potential addictive effects on users' physical, mental, and sexual health. This study aimed to develop and validate the Problematic Dating App Use Scale (PRODAS), an instrument designed to assess problematic usage patterns of geo-location-based dating apps and its association with mental and sexual health risks in a high-risk population such as men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM).

Methods

Data was sourced from the Real Risks of the Online World study (see clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT04714034) enrolling HIV-negative MSM. Items for the PRODAS were derived through deductive systematic literature reviews, evaluation of existing scales based on various addiction models, and inductive focus group interviews. In a longitudinal mixed methods study we assessed the validity of the PRODAS twice over a six-month period in 226 MSM residing in Switzerland (MDage: 41.5 yrs., IQR: 32-50 yrs.). Additionally, we examined dating app behavior and associated mental and sexual health risks with in-person interviews and self-reporting questionnaires. Validity and reliability of the initial 20-item PRODAS were tested using exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), as well as correlational analysis and linear regression models to investigate associated risk factors of problematic dating app use. 

Results

EFA and CFA analyses resulted in a 6-item unidimensional PRODAS demonstrating good fit indices (RMSEA=.07, CFI=.97, TLI=.95, SRMR=.03). Reliability analysis indicated good internal consistency (α=.78), and high retest reliability (r=.70) reflecting consistent values over time. Significant associations were found between the PRODAS sum score and symptoms of depression and ADHD, loneliness, and lifetime prevalence of sexually transmittable diseases. The PRODAS sum score was also confirmed as a significant predictor for these outcomes in linear regression analysis in this high-risk MSM cohort.

Conclusion

The 6-item PRODAS emerges as a valid and reliable self-report questionnaire assessing problematic use of online dating. Its development provides a valuable tool for researchers and clinicians to effectively assess and monitor problematic dating app usage and its associated risks on users’ mental, sexual, and physical health. Finally, our research contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding dating app usage, motivations, and its associated risks, ultimately informing evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies.