Tracking the “evolution of online dating,” we learn that it actually started back in 1995 with the launch of Match.

Since then, swipe-based dating apps have taken over the online dating scene. These apps are a platform for individuals to interact and form romantic/sexual connections before meeting face to face with potential partners. What sets them apart from other online dating apps is the feature of “swiping” on the screen to either accept or reject another user’s profile. Some of the most common apps that use this method are Tinder, Bumble, Happn, and OkCupid.

Many people who use swipe-based dating apps report feeling psychological distress and depressive symptoms. Image by Odua Images on Shutterstock

Research by Western Sydney University and the University of Sydney has linked the experience of swipe-based dating apps to higher rates of psychological distress and/or depression.

An online survey (published in BMC Psychology) of over 430 individuals compared the impact of dating habits on the mental health of people who use swipe-based dating apps and those who don’t.

The measures used during this evaluation were the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-2 scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-2, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. An analysis of variance (a tool used in statistics that splits the data into two parts: systematic factors and random factors) was then used to consider all four mental health scores together.

20 percent of participants who use swipe-based dating apps reported a significantly higher level of psychological distress compared to those who didn’t use these apps.

Sabrina Pit, one of the researchers on the project, explains: “We found an increased frequency of use and longer duration of time using the apps were both associated with greater psychological distress and depression.”

Read more «How swipe-based dating apps are impacting your mental health»