Profiling Dating Apps Users: Sociodemographic and Personality Characteristics.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional survey (graded Level 4 by design analogy for non-clinical research)
PubMed 32455986 · doi:10.3390/ijerph17103653
What was done
Researchers conducted an online cross-sectional questionnaire study among 1,705 university students aged 18–26 (mean age 20.60 ± 2.09 years; 70% women, 30% men). The study evaluated associations between dating app usage status (non-users, previous users, and current users), sociodemographics (gender, age, sexual orientation, relationship status), and bright and dark personality traits using multinomial logistic regression analyses.
What was found
The abstract does not report specific numerical effect sizes, odds ratios, or p-values. Directionally, multinomial logistic regression showed that men, older youth, and members of sexual minorities were more likely to be current and previous dating app users. Being single and having higher open-mindedness scores were associated with a higher probability of being a current dating app user. Dark personality traits showed no predictive ability.
Why it matters
This study delineates the demographic and psychological correlates of dating app adoption among young adults, finding that usage is linked to open-mindedness and demographic factors rather than dark personality traits.
Limits
The study is cross-sectional, preventing causal inferences. The sample was restricted to university students aged 18–26 and had a strong female skew (70%), limiting generalizability. Data were collected via self-report online surveys, and the abstract omits quantitative effect sizes and confidence intervals.
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.