According to research published in the Journal of Eating Disorders, it is possible to correlate the use of apps of dating with the development of disorders that are linked to eating. The reason for creating the study was the concern with self-image disorders and how they can affect the diet and psychological state of users of these social networks. Learn more about the research and its findings.
Dating apps and eating disorders
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The study, proposed by the author Jade Portingale, was created to elucidate the reasons for the development or worsening of eating disorders and what is their relationship with the use of dating apps. Among the main reasons, we see the need to understand the problems involved in the frequent use of a social network dominated by appearance, information overload and constant comparison and competition between users.
For this reason, although the objective is noble – to find great love or create new connections –, there are also problems that may imply self-esteem problems and the emergence of a destructive relationship with food, especially in people who do not correspond to the media standard.
As a result, the study reached the following conclusions:
Purpose of the study
Portingale, a member of the Laboratory of Eating Disorders at the University of Melbourne, reports that if it is possible to prove traces common psychological disorders that exacerbate the risk of disorders more frequent in heavy users of dating apps and/or whether the motivations for use are associated with increased risk of eating disorders, then it may open up new avenues for intervention and programs of prevention.
How was the research carried out?
For the study, 690 young people willing to collaborate with a cross-sectional study were selected, with an average age of 20 years. They answered questionnaires about their use of dating apps and symptoms of eating disorders. Then they completed assessments and scales of traits often related to disordered eating, such as sensitivity and fear of rejection due to physical appearance, social status and dysregulation emotional.
What are the results of the study?
40% of volunteers reported being Tinder users.
It was noticed, based on the analysis of the results, that the participants who reported the use of dating reported more symptoms of people with eating disorders when compared to those who did not. users.
And among app users, what are the findings?
When comparing app users, questions were asked about the motivations for using the dating network. From this, two groups were determined: the group of those who used it for fun and those who used it to facilitate communication and validate self-esteem. The second group identified more with symptoms of eating disorders.
Discussion
The research came to the conclusion that the prolonged use of dating and flirting applications can exert a sociocultural pressure based on physical appearance and, therefore, disorders such as these can be stimulated.