Use of dating apps and online dating in lockdown compared with 2019
| Variable | Used apps in 2019, n/N (%) | Used apps since lockdown, n/N (%) | Difference (95% CI) † |
| Overall | 406/965 (42.1) | 260/953 (27.3) | −14.8 (−17.6 to −11.9) |
| Gender | |||
| Male | 117/247 (47.4) | 85/241 (35.3) | −12.1 (−17.3 to −6.9) |
| Female | 270/673 (40.1) | 162/669 (24.2) | −15.9 (−19.4 to −12.4) |
| Gender diverse* | 18/42 (42.9) | 13/41 (31.7) | −11.1 (−24.6 to 2.3) |
| Age (years) | |||
| 18–29 | 309/635 (48.7) | 193/627 (30.8) | −18.0 (−21.8 to −14.1) |
| 30+ | 96/323 (29.7) | 67/320 (20.9) | −8.8 (−5.1 to −12.4) |
| Sexual identity‡ | |||
| Heterosexual | 221/632 (35.0) | 152/624 (24.3) | −10.6 (−13.9 to −7.3) |
| MSM | 61/91 (67.0) | 40/89 (44.9) | −22.1 (−31.2 to −13.0) |
| WSW | 107/201 (53.2) | 55/201 (27.4) | −25.9 (−33.0 to −18.8) |
| Other | 15/38 (39.5) | 12/37 (32.4) | −7.0 (−22.3 to 8.2) |
| Relationship status§ | |||
| In a relationship and cohabitating | 71/346 (20.5) | 25/344 (7.3) | −13.3 (−16.8 to −9.7) |
| In a relationship but not cohabitating | 88/248 (35.5) | 20/245 (8.2) | −27.3 (−33.5 to −21.1) |
| Single | 220/329 (66.9) | 198/325 (60.9) | −5.9 (−11.0 to −0.1) |
| Other | 25/37 (67.6) | 17/36 (47.2) | −20.3 (−39.0 to −1.7) |
*Gender diverse includes trans and non-binary.
†The difference in proportions lockdown-2019; calculated from logistic regression model.
‡MSM=men who have sex with men (including bisexual men); WSW=women who have sex with women (including bisexual women); other=asexual and non-binary and those who selected ‘something else’.
§‘In a relationship’ includes those who selected married/de facto/boyfriend/girlfriend/living apart together or long distance relationship; ‘cohabiting’ defined as living with partner/s; single includes those who selected single/divorced/widowed (and did not select another relationship); other includes people who selected polyamorous or multiple partners (and did not select another relationship option, such as single) and those who indicated in comments that they were casually dating but not exclusive.