Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

Internet dating sites have increased in popularity for the pursuit of romantic and sexual relationships. Amongst health care professionals there is concern that these sites provide a faster way to spread sexually transmitted infections (STI) because people have access to a larger group of partners possibly leading to an increased numbers of sexual partners and riskier sexual behaviours. Research focussing on men who have sex with men indicates that people using the internet for dating and sex are more likely to engage in riskier sexual behaviours and to acquire an STI. The extent to which women's romantic online relationships develop into sexual off-line relationships, or the extent to which women use the internet for sex seeking has not yet been explored. STI research has shown that once intimacy and trust develop in relationships, perceptions of STI risk and the motivation to engage in safer sex are lowered. Recent research indicates that intimacy and trust develop more rapidly on line than with face-to-face communication. To date, no studies have examined whether women using internet dating sites for romance or sex are more at risk for an STI or HIV. This study will investigate whether women using the internet to access romantic or sexual partners are at greater risk for STI or HIV than those who do not. In addition, this study will explore how women's online relationships develop with respect to intimacy, trust, and sexual risk behaviour, and examine how the development of online relationships differs from off line face to face relationships.