ArticleBMC psychology2024
Online dating: predictors of problematic tinder use.
Article in BMC psychology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Validation of the Spanish Sexual Risk Behaviour Scale among adolescents, youth, and future health and educational professionals.BMC psychology · 2026Article
- Exploring Prejudice Toward Tinder: Two Experiments on the Social Perception of Dating App Users and Online-Formed Couples.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Exploring the interplay between tinder use, general self-esteem, and sexual self-esteem among European emerging adults.BMC psychology · 2026Article
- Dating app users: Differences between middle-aged men and women.International journal of clinical and health psychology : IJCHPArticle
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundGeolocation apps have radically transformed dating practices around the world, with profound sociocultural implications. Few studies, however, have explored their addictive potential or factors that are associated with their misuse.
objectiveThe present study aimed to assess the level of problematic Tinder use (PTU) in an adult sample, using a machine learning algorithm to determine, among 29 relevant variables, the most important predictors of PTU.
methods1,387 users of Tinder (18-74 years-old; male = 50.3%; female = 49.1%) completed an online questionnaire, and a machine learning tool was used to analyze their responses.
resultsOn 5-point scale, participants' mean PTU score was 1.91 (SD = 0.70), indicating a relatively low overall level of problematic app use. Among the most important predictors of Problematic use were the use of Tinder for enhancement (reduce boredom and increase positive emotions), coping with psychological problems, and increasing social connectedness. The number of "matches" (when two users show mutual interest), the number of online contacts on Tinder, and the number of resulting offline dates were also among the top predictors of PTU. Depressive mood and loneliness were among the middle-ranked predictors of PTU.
conclusionIn accordance with the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution model of problematic internet use, the results suggest that PTU relates to how individual experience on the app interacts with dispositional and situational characteristics. However, variables that seemed to relate to PTU, including lack of self-esteem, negative mood states and loneliness, are not problems that online dating services as currently designed can be expected to resolve. This argues for increased digital services to identify and address potential problems helping drive the popularity of dating apps.
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