Swipe-based dating applications use and its association with mental health outcomes: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Swipe-Based Dating Applications (SBDAs) function similarly to other social media and online dating platforms but have the unique feature of "swiping" the screen to either like or dislike another user's profile. There is a lack of research into the relationship between SBDAs and mental health outcomes. The aim of this study was to study whether adult SBDA users report higher levels of psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and lower self-esteem, compared to people who do not use SBDAs. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 437 participants. Mental health (MH) outcomes included the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, Generalised Anxiety Disorder-2 scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-2, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Logistic regressions were used to estimate odds ratios of having a MH condition. A repeated measures analysis of variance was used with an apriori model which considered all four mental health scores together in a single analysis. The apriori model included user status, age and gender. Results: Thirty percent were current SBDA users. The majority of users and past users had met people face-to-face, with 26.1%(60/230) having met > 5 people, and only 22.6%(52/230) having never arranged a meeting. Almost 40%(39.1%; 90/230) had previously entered into a serious relationship with someone they had met on a SBDA. More participants reported a positive impact on self-esteem as a result of SBDA use (40.4%; 93/230), than a negative impact (28.7%;66/230). Being a SBDA user was significantly associated with having psychological distress (OR = 2.51,95%CI (1.32-4.77)), p = 0.001), and depression (OR = 1.91,95%CI (1.04-3.52), p = 0.037) in the multivariable logistic regression models, adjusting for age, gender and sexual orientation. When the four MH scores were analysed together there was a significant difference (p = 0.037) between being a user or non-user, with SDBA users having significantly higher mean scores for distress (p = 0.001), anxiety (p = 0.015) and depression (p = 0.005). Increased frequency of use and longer duration of use were both associated with greater psychological distress and depression (p < 0.05). Conclusion: SBDA use is common and users report higher levels of depression, anxiety and distress compared to those who do not use the applications. Further studies are needed to determine causality and investigate specific patterns of SBDA use that are detrimental to mental health.

Intimate Relationships during COVID-19 across the Genders: An Examination of the Interactions of Digital Dating, Sexual Behavior, and Mental Health

“…This same age group accounts for 25% of the annual incidents related to mental diseases, out of which, 12% of incidents result in mental disorders and substance abuse. Individuals who used swipe-based dating apps on a regular basis and for more than a year were also shown to have slightly statistically higher rates of psychological anxiety and depression, which is comparable to a finding regarding people who used social media more often and for longer periods of time (Holtzhausen et al 2020). Within these data, Australian women and LGBTQI+ people displayed higher levels of psychiatric distress when compared to men, but not lower self-esteem.…”

“…At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tinder reported 3 billion swipes in a single day. Tinder is a significant dating application; in 2018, there were 57 million users worldwide (Holtzhausen et al 2020). Currently, Tinder is the most downloaded dating service in the world, with over six million monthly users in January 2021 (Tankovska 2021a).…”

“…The smartphone swipe-based dating applications (e.g., Tinder) provide users with a platform to explore potential matches before meeting them for a physical date (Holtzhausen et al 2020). The phrase "swipe logic" (David and Cambre 2016) refers to dating platforms utilizing the feature of "screening" a fellow dating user by approving or rejecting a user through the decision to swipe left or right.…”

Struggles in the Orthodox Jewish shidduch dating system—A large‐scale qualitative analysis

“…This aspect of the shidduch system can be compared to the modern‐day use of dating websites where individuals decide whom to date based on resumes and photos. Indeed, research indicates that the use of dating websites such as Tinder and other swipe‐based dating applications is associated with increased depression, anxiety, distress, and body shame (Holtzhausen et al, 2020; Strubel & Petrie, 2017). While previous research highlights that the shidduch system, unlike the secular dating system, circumvents heartache by its intellectualized style dating ensuring that individuals marry based on shared values (Golker & Senior, 2021; Milevsky et al, 2011), this study indicates that many community members feel that the shidduch system has evolved in ways that no longer accomplishes that goal.…”

Dating Apps and Mental Health Status: Is There a Link?

“…10, 11 In a study that included 437 Australian participants, higher depression, anxiety, and stress scores were found among users of Swipe-Based apps compared to participants who did not use them. 12 Another study, with 3074 participants, added that social anxiety symptoms were shown to be positively related to the use of these platforms, with these symptoms predicting a lower likelihood of initiating contact with a “match” in male but not female users. 13 It has been described that Tinder is positively related to reporting more sexual partners and non-consensual sexual intercourse, the last being more prevalent among women and sexual minorities.…”