240734 Senior Surfers: Online dating experiences of older women

Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 3:30 PM

Carla L. VandeWeerd, PhD , Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Jaime Corvin, PhD, MSPH , Global Health, Univeristy of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Martha L. Coulter, DrPH MSW , Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Robin Telford, MA , Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Ali Yalcin, PhD , College of Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Elizabeth Perkins, PhD , Florida Center for Inclusive Communities; Department of Child and Family Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Bonnie Yegedis, PhD , School of Social Work, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
A growing number of adults over the age of 50 are using the internet on a daily basis. In addition to browsing the internet, an increasing number of older adults have begun to use the internet to seek intimate, dating, or date like relationships, yet little is known about their online dating behaviors nor about the risks or possible adverse outcomes. To better understand the benefits, risks and outcomes associated with online dating, this study collected pilot data from 45 women. Women were over the age of 50 and self-identified as “seeking relationships” on MySpace.com or Latino MySpace. Study participation was limited to women living within a 25 mile radius of Tampa Bay, Florida and 15 women from each category, Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic, were recruited. Participants were contacted via the secure email feature of their publically available MySpace account and were asked to complete an online survey which contained questions on frequency, duration, and purpose of their social network/dating site behaviors, information they shared with potential suitors, screening of potential mates, and positive or negative experiences outcomes that have arisen from the online dating process including reporting behaviors. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS. Qualitative data was analyzed using Atlas Ti. Emerging themes such as experience with, and risk for, intimate partner violence were identified in response to open ended questions. Implications of the findings will be discussed in terms of policy and practice for Public Health. Findings will contribute to an online toolkit promoting safer online dating.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Communication and informatics
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify risk factors that increase intimate partner violence for women over the age of 50 who are dating online. 2. Discuss ways to increase the safety of women over the age of 50 who are dating online. 3. Design educational materials to prevent adverse outcomes from dating online for women over the age of 50.

Keywords: Violence, Aging

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am associate director of the Harrell Center for Study of Family Violence and Assistant Professor in the Department of Community and Family Health. In my role I oversee programs aimed at reducing family violence, and teach classes on health dispariies, socio-behavioral sciences, grant writing, and research methods. I am also PI of this grant and the lead author of the manuscript this paper is based on.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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