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

Abstract

Background: The development of SexTech (Sexuality + Technology) has profoundly altered the way relationships are experienced, and an accessible example of that, which has millions of users, is the dating apps (Tinder, Grindr, and Bumble), which can locate partners with common interests nearby. Aim: To determine whether the use of dating apps is associated with higher levels of stress, anxiety, or depression and to assess the main motivations for using dating apps in young people. Methods: An online questionnaire addressed to university students was designed with an initial part aimed at collecting the sociodemographic data of the sample, a second part to address motivations for the use of dating applications, and a third part designed to evaluate the anxiety and depression scores of the participants. Outcomes: This study had two main outcomes: anxiety and depression scores measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Results: Four hundred and ninety-seven people participated in the study, with an average age of 21.8 years. Seventy percent were female. Thirty-four percent of the students use or have used these applications. Recent users showed a statistically significantly higher depression score than non-users. However, the ones who ever used dating apps did not report significantly higher scores than non-users. Homosexual participants have a statistically significantly higher anxiety and depression score than heterosexual. The most stated reason for using apps was “meeting new people,” followed by “entertainment” and “curiosity.” Clinical Implications: To promote mental health and sex education, have more tools to respond to topics related to sexuality and technology. Strengths and Limitations: The DASS-21 questionnaire is an adequate tool for screening for anxiety and depression disorders. However, other methods should be added to establish a formal diagnosis. The methodology applied in this research allowed us to establish an association between variables but not causality. In any case, we argue that our results shed light on the impact that the much-used dating apps have on mental health and the main reasons for their use. Conclusion: Being a user of dating apps does not seem to impact mental health; however, recent use and belonging to a minority constitute predictors of more anxiety and depression symptoms.