Dating app use and wellbeing: an application-based pilot study employing ecological momentary assessment and objective measures of use

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Bonilla-Zorita, G ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8689-7506, Griffiths, MD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524 and Kuss, DJ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8917-782X, 2023. Dating app use and wellbeing: an application-based pilot study employing ecological momentary assessment and objective measures of use. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20 (9): 5631. ISSN 1661-7827

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20095631

Abstract

Smartphones are part of individuals' daily lifestyles, as are smartphone applications such as dating apps. Previous evidence suggests that high engagement in dating applications can be detrimental to some users' wellbeing. However, much of the published research has relied on cross-sectional studies and self-report measures. Therefore, the present study aims to overcome the limitations of subjective measures in cross-sectional designs by investigating for the first time the relationship between dating app users' wellbeing (self-esteem, craving and mood) and objective measures of their use during a one-week period. To do this, the present study employed a newly developed application, DiaryMood and utilized ecological momentary assessment (EMA), as it measured subjects' mood, self-esteem and craving three times per day and the time spent using the dating apps per day during one week. A convenience sample of 22 online dating app users participated in the present study. Findings from a three-level multilevel analysis indicated that increased time spent on dating apps predicted craving among dating app users and that notifications led to an improved mood and higher self-esteem. The results are discussed in relation to previous online dating studies. In sum, the present study sets a precedent for the use of EMA within the scope of online dating research, which may promote further studies adopting this methodology.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Creators:	Bonilla-Zorita, G., Griffiths, M.D. and Kuss, D.J.
Publisher:	MDPI AG
Date:	2023
Volume:	20
Number:	9
ISSN:	1661-7827
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.3390/ijerph20095631 DOI 1753925 Other
Rights:	Copyright: © 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Linda Sullivan
Date Added:	25 Apr 2023 11:17
Last Modified:	25 Apr 2023 11:17
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/48829