Profiling Dating Apps Users: Sociodemographic and Personality Characteristics

Ángel Castro, Juan Ramón Barrada, Pedro J. Ramos-Villagrasa and Elena Fernández-del-Río
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Ángel Castro: Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanas. Universidad de Zaragoza. Calle Atarazanas, 4. 44003 Teruel, Spain
Juan Ramón Barrada: Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanas. Universidad de Zaragoza. Calle Atarazanas, 4. 44003 Teruel, Spain
Pedro J. Ramos-Villagrasa: Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y del Trabajo. Universidad de Zaragoza. Calle Violante de Hungría, 23. 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Elena Fernández-del-Río: Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y del Trabajo. Universidad de Zaragoza. Calle Violante de Hungría, 23. 50009 Zaragoza, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-13

Abstract: The development of new technologies, the expansion of the Internet, and the emergence of dating apps (e.g., Tinder, Grindr) in recent years have changed the way to meet and approach potential romantic and/or sexual partners. The recent phenomenon has led to some gaps in the literature on individual differences (sociodemographic variables and personality traits) between users (previous and current users) and non-users of dating apps. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between using dating apps, sociodemographics (gender, age, sexual orientation, and relationship status), and bright and dark personality traits. Participants were 1705 university students (70% women, 30% men), aged between 18 and 26 ( M = 20.60, SD = 2.09), who completed several online questionnaires. Through multinomial logistic regression analyses, it was found that men, older youth, and members of sexual minorities were more likely to be current and previous dating apps users. Being single and higher scores in open-mindedness were associated with higher probability to be current dating apps user. The dark personality showed no predictive ability. The discussion highlights the usefulness of knowing and considering the sociodemographic background and the characteristics of personality patterns in the design and implementation of preventive and promotion programs of healthy romantic and sexual relationships to improve people’s better health and well-being.

Keywords: dating apps; Tinder; Grindr; Big Five; Dark Core; university students (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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