A study by researchers at Stanford Medicine has revealed the real reasons why people use dating apps. One spoiler: it goes beyond the traditional goal of finding suitors.
In fact, the results suggest that users have diverse psychological motivations and that this has a big impact on your levels of satisfaction with the app and the results of your interactions.
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The study
The researchers interviewed 1,387 users of the Tinder. In the end, it was revealed that a large portion of these individuals are not interested in meeting their matches in real life, limiting the experience to the virtual environment.
In this context, approximately half of respondents expressed a lack of enthusiasm for face-to-face encounters, and more than two-thirds were already in serious relationships or married.
Additionally, data collected from dating app users highlighted several other motivations for using the tool.
Many people turn to apps for friendship, entertainment, and as a distraction to build up positive emotions or deal with negative ones.
The researchers took into account several factors, such as psychological measures of impulsivity, depression, loneliness and self-esteem, in addition to marital status, selectivity in choosing partners and the number of real encounters that users had.
Elias Aboujaoude, one of the study's authors, raised an intriguing question: "Why would someone spend a lot of time on a dating app if they don't intend to have a date?” This study was dedicated to answering this question, extrapolating the conventional assumption of searching for connections romantic.
Methodology used
To analyze the factors that influence user satisfaction, the researchers used a machine learning model.
They found that specific variables positively impacted satisfaction, such as using the app to search romantic partners or establish social connections. On the other hand, some factors had a negative influence, resulting in a decrease in satisfaction.
Aboujaoude also noted, "The results suggest that online dating may not be an effective coping mechanism for people who are experiencing mental health challenges."
While dating apps can provide a sense of connection and entertainment, they aren't always able to meet your deepest emotional needs.
Among the most significant predictors of offline dating satisfaction, the user's age was the most relevant factor.
Older individuals, who grew up in a less connected era, tend to have a greater selectivity in their correspondence choices, which reflects in a greater satisfaction with encounters in the real life.