Love App-tually? Couples who meet on dating apps are less happy in their marriages than people who meet in person, a study has found
- Scientists surveyed 923 people who had met their partner online or offline
- Those who met through dating apps had lower marital satisfaction and stability
While dating apps were once considered taboo, they are now one of the most popular ways for couples to connect.
Whether it’s Tinder, Bumble or even singles with food allergies: figures show that a third of marriages are now concluded online.
But a new study suggests that swiping right isn’t the best way to go if you want a happy marriage.
Researchers at Arizona State University in the US say couples who meet on dating apps are unhappier in their marriages than people who meet in the real world.
“The results support an online dating effect, particularly by showing that people who meet through online dating report different levels of satisfaction and stability than those who meet offline,” the researchers said.
Whether it’s Tinder, Bumble or even singles with food allergies, figures show that a third of marriages are concluded online. But a new study suggests swiping right isn’t the best way to go if you want a happy marriage (stock image)
Researchers at Arizona State University say couples who meet on dating apps are unhappier in their marriages than people who meet in the real world
The first incarnation of a dating app can be traced back to 1995 when Match.com was first launched.
Since then, thousands of dating apps have invaded the online space, and an estimated 21.9 percent of people in the United States now use them.
In their new study, the team wanted to find out whether online meetings had an impact on marital satisfaction.
Researchers recruited 923 married participants who were surveyed about their marital satisfaction and stability.
Around half (49.3 percent) of the participants had met their partner online, via dating apps such as Grindr, Tinder or Bumble.
The other 50.7 percent had met offline, including at work, in college or in a bar or club.
To assess their marital satisfaction, participants were asked to answer questions such as “How well does your spouse meet your needs?” and “How satisfied are you with your marriage in general?”
Meanwhile, questions assessing the stability of their marriage are asked, including: “Have you or your spouse ever seriously suggested the idea of divorce?”
The results showed that couples who met online tended to be younger, had more dating experience and were more likely to have a same-sex or interracial marriage than those who met offline.
Participants who met online reported lower marital satisfaction and stability.
While the reason for the findings remains unclear, researchers suspect it may be due to the stigma associated with meeting online.
Liesel Sharabi, lead author of the study, said: “Our research shows that it is the stigmatization of their relationship that puts online couples under stress – they tend to face higher levels of social marginalization, either because they are more likely to be interracial or a mixed-race person is a same-sex couple or because they feel judged for meeting their spouse online.”
Fortunately, researchers say being aware of this stigma can help improve your chances of a happy marriage.
“By being aware of these obstacles, online couples can potentially have a longer, stable and happy future together,” Ms. Sharabi added.