Sexological Aspects Related to Tinder Use: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative literature review synthesizing observational studies without systematic methodology
PubMed 32089467 · doi:10.1016/j.sxmr.2019.12.004
What was done
A computerized literature review was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar covering empirical studies published in the preceding 5 years. Search terms combined "Tinder" with terms for sexuality, sexual behavior, sexual dysfunctions, and sexual health. A total of 34 empirical articles satisfied inclusion criteria and were synthesized.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data or statistical effect sizes. It reports that sociosexuality is the primary predictor of casual sex among Tinder users, and men reported using the app for casual sex more than women. Tinder use was noted to be less associated with the risk of sexually transmitted infections compared with other dating apps. Dark personality traits (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) were more frequently reported among male Tinder users.
Why it matters
This review maps the primary behavioral and psychological correlates of Tinder use, highlighting how individual personality and sociosexual orientation drive dating app behavior.
Limits
The abstract reports no effect sizes, odds ratios, or participant counts. The underlying studies are observational and cross-sectional, preventing causal inferences. The synthesis is a non-quantitative narrative review without formal meta-analytic pooling or risk-of-bias grading.
Cited by
- context A study of college students found that Tinder users scored significantly higher on Dark Triad personality traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy) than non-users, with effect sizes between d = 0.3 and 0.4.