The Use of Internet Chat Rooms to Meet Sexual Partners: A Comparison of Non-Heterosexually Identified Men with Heterosexually Identified Men and Women |
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| Authors: | David Wyatt Seal Eric G. Benotsch Marisa Green Daniel J. Snipes Sheana S. Bull Anna Cejka |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA;2. Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA;3. Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA;4. Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA;5. Department of Psychology, University of Colorado, Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACT. Objectives: Prior work suggests that many individuals use the Internet to meet romantic or sexual partners. Our intent was to explore perceptions and experiences with meeting people online. Methods: In 2008, the authors conducted U.S.-based online interviews with 65 predominantly White, self-identified heterosexual men and women and gay/bisexual men (Mean age = 30.8 years). Results: Reasons for meeting people online, desired partner characteristics, and the process of connecting for sex paralleled those observed in face-to-face contexts. People used Internet chat rooms to identify more partners and specific partner characteristics. “Background checks” of online partners, though often believed to be inaccurate, increased familiarity and trust leading to reduced condom use. Participants said online condom use negotiation was easier but usually occurred in face-to-face contexts. Conclusions: The fundamental processes of meeting partners online are similar in many ways to meeting partners face-to-face; however, the Internet facilitates rapid access to relatively large numbers of potential partners. |
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| Keywords: | Internet sexual behavior qualitative condom use |
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