Liesel L. Sharabi , Lihong Ou , Paige A. Von Feldt , Thomas D. Parsons
{"title":"Dating app use, psychological health, and psychological well-being: A systematic review and quantitative meta-analysis","authors":"Liesel L. Sharabi , Lihong Ou , Paige A. Von Feldt , Thomas D. Parsons","doi":"10.1016/j.chb.2025.108879","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This pre-registered study reports the results of a systematic review and quantitative meta-analysis of the clinical (e.g., psychological health and well-being) outcomes of dating app use. We conducted a keyword search of the literature for studies published between 2007 and 2024 using seven databases in communication, psychology, and the biomedical and life sciences. Our sample included 23 studies (<em>N</em> = 26,068) and captured the period of time since dating apps were first brought to market to the present. We found that dating app users reported significantly worse psychological health and well-being (i.e., depression, anxiety, affective dysregulation, loneliness, and psychological distress) than dating app non-users. We also performed a subgroup analysis to explore the significant heterogeneity across studies. The effect of dating app use versus non-use on psychological health and well-being differed by platform type, relationship status, sexual orientation, and cultural context, but these differences were not significant. Overall, our synthesis of 17 years of research coheres with prior trends and underscores the need for targeted interventions to improve the outcomes of dating app users.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48471,"journal":{"name":"Computers in Human Behavior","volume":"177 ","pages":"Article 108879"},"PeriodicalIF":12.2000,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Computers in Human Behavior","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563225003267","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/12/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, EXPERIMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This pre-registered study reports the results of a systematic review and quantitative meta-analysis of the clinical (e.g., psychological health and well-being) outcomes of dating app use. We conducted a keyword search of the literature for studies published between 2007 and 2024 using seven databases in communication, psychology, and the biomedical and life sciences. Our sample included 23 studies (N = 26,068) and captured the period of time since dating apps were first brought to market to the present. We found that dating app users reported significantly worse psychological health and well-being (i.e., depression, anxiety, affective dysregulation, loneliness, and psychological distress) than dating app non-users. We also performed a subgroup analysis to explore the significant heterogeneity across studies. The effect of dating app use versus non-use on psychological health and well-being differed by platform type, relationship status, sexual orientation, and cultural context, but these differences were not significant. Overall, our synthesis of 17 years of research coheres with prior trends and underscores the need for targeted interventions to improve the outcomes of dating app users.
期刊介绍:
Computers in Human Behavior is a scholarly journal that explores the psychological aspects of computer use. It covers original theoretical works, research reports, literature reviews, and software and book reviews. The journal examines both the use of computers in psychology, psychiatry, and related fields, and the psychological impact of computer use on individuals, groups, and society. Articles discuss topics such as professional practice, training, research, human development, learning, cognition, personality, and social interactions. It focuses on human interactions with computers, considering the computer as a medium through which human behaviors are shaped and expressed. Professionals interested in the psychological aspects of computer use will find this journal valuable, even with limited knowledge of computers.