The use of the dating app Tinder has risen sharply in the past decade, making it the most popular dating platform worldwide. However, its impact on users' self-esteem and sexual well-being remains underexplored. This study therefore examined the relationships between Tinder use, motivations for using the app, and both general and sexual self-esteem among young adults in Switzerland and Italy.
A sample of 2162 emerging adults (mean age = 23.8 ± 3 years, 77.4% women, 63% Italians) was examined, comparing Tinder users (64.5%) with non-Tinder users (35.5%). Participants completed an online survey assessing sociodemographic, motivations for using Tinder, self-esteem, and sexual self-esteem.
Findings revealed that most Tinder users were females (75.1%) and were using the app 1-3 times per week (29.6%). The primary motivations for using Tinder included fun, passing time, flirting, and meeting new people; 79.9% reported having had a date, and of those, 53.6% reported having had one-night stands. Results indicated that Tinder users reported significantly lower sexual self-esteem than non-users (p<0.001). Furthermore, higher Tinder usage frequency was linked to lower sexual self-esteem (p<0.001), while higher general self-esteem was related to higher sexual self-esteem (p<0.001). These findings suggest that frequent Tinder use may decrease sexual self-esteem or vice versa. Practitioners could integrate online dating behaviors in their assessments, developing interventions to mitigate potential negative effects and promote healthier self-perception among emerging adults. Further research is needed to investigate additional factors impacting general and sexual self-esteem in the context of dating apps.

Authors:
Jalisse Schmid, University of Basel, Switzerland
Christina Stadler, University of Basel, Switzerland
Marco Lauriola, University of Sapienza Roma, Italy
Eva Unternährer, University of Basel, Switzerland

About the Presenter(s)
Jalisse Schmid is currently a PhD student at the University of Basel, Switzerland. Her current project explores social media's impact on mental well-being in emerging adults.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jalisse-schmid-376905212

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