Dating App Use and Wellbeing: An Application-Based Pilot Study Employing Ecological Momentary Assessment and...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Digital Wellbeing

Background:

• Smartphone applications, particularly dating apps, are integral to daily life.
• Previous research indicates potential negative impacts of high dating app engagement on user wellbeing.
• Existing studies often rely on cross-sectional designs and self-report measures, limiting objective insights.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between objective dating app usage patterns and user wellbeing (self-esteem, craving, mood).
• To overcome limitations of subjective measures and cross-sectional designs in online dating research.
• To explore the impact of specific app interactions, like notifications, on user psychological states.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a newly developed application, DiaryMood, for objective data collection.
• Employed ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to measure mood, self-esteem, and craving thrice daily.
• Monitored daily time spent on dating apps and notification interactions over a one-week period.
• Analyzed data from 22 online dating app users using three-level multilevel analysis.

Main Results:

• Increased time spent on dating applications was associated with higher levels of craving.
• Receiving dating app notifications positively correlated with improved mood.
• Dating app notifications were linked to enhanced self-esteem among users.

Conclusions:

• This study introduces objective measurement via EMA to online dating research, setting a methodological precedent.
• Findings suggest a nuanced relationship between dating app use and wellbeing, with notifications potentially mitigating negative effects.
• Highlights the need for further research employing EMA to understand the complex dynamics of digital dating and user psychology.