ArticleBMC research notes2026
Dating app use and depression symptoms in adolescents.
Article in BMC research notes, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
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Abstract
objectivesThe popularity of dating apps has grown significantly among younger demographics. Despite evidence on the relationship between online dating and mental health in adults, little research exists on underage online dating app use in adolescents. This study examines the association between dating app use and depression symptoms in a U.S. sample of 13–16-year-old adolescents.
resultsWe examined cross-sectional data from Year 5 (2021–2023) of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study (N = 11,530). Multivariable linear regression analyses using cluster-robust (heteroskedasticity-consistent) standard errors were used to estimate the association between dating app use and depression symptoms, adjusting for potential confounders including sociodemographic factors (age, sex, race/ethnicity, household income, parent education) and study site. In this demographically diverse sample of adolescents (47.9% female, 47.3% racial and ethnic minority), 0.9% reported ever using a dating app. Dating app use was associated with higher depression symptoms (standardized beta coefficient [ß] 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.08–0.76; p = 0.017) in adjusted models. This association may be due to victimization and unsafe online activities. Future prospective and mechanistic studies are needed to better understand the link between underage dating app use and depression symptoms.
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