Problematic Online Dating: A Systematic Review of Definitions, Correlates, and Study Designs

Marina Frederike Thomas; Sylvia Doerfler; Gloria Mittmann; Verena Steiner-Hofbauer

Problematic Online Dating: A Systematic Review of Definitions, Correlates, and Study Designs

Titel in Übersetzung: Problematisches Online-Dating: Eine systematische Übersicht zu Definitionen, Korrelaten und Studiendesigns

Forschungszentrum Transitionspsychiatrie

Publikation: Konferenzbeitrag › Mündlicher Konferenzbeitrag

Abstract

Hintergrund:
Nutzer:innen beschreiben mobile Dating-Apps häufig als süchtig machend, und die Forschung hat versucht, zwanghafte Nutzung von Dating-Apps als Form einer Verhaltenssucht zu konzeptualisieren. Das Konzept einer Online-Dating-Sucht ist jedoch weiterhin umstritten.

Ziele:
Diese systematische Literaturübersicht synthetisiert Forschung zu problematisierten Online-Dating-Verhaltensweisen mit besonderem Fokus auf (1) Definitionen und Messinstrumente problematischer Dating-App-Nutzung, (2) untersuchte negative Korrelate sowie (3) Studiendesigns.

Methoden:
Wir durchsuchten 16 Datenbanken und identifizierten 263 Einträge zu problematischem Online-Dating. Neunundzwanzig Publikationen – erschienen zwischen 2009 und 2024 – erfüllten die Einschlusskriterien und umfassten insgesamt 32 Studien zur problematischen Nutzung von Dating-Apps. Die Stichprobengrößen reichten von 64 bis 4057 Teilnehmenden, das Alter von 13 bis 80 Jahren, wobei viele Stichproben Personen im Alter von 18 bis 35 Jahren umfassten.

Ergebnisse:
Folgende Online-Dating-Verhaltensweisen wurden von Forschenden problematisiert (in absteigender Häufigkeit): Nutzung zu bestimmten Motiven (n = 10), problematische Nutzung im Sinne einer Verhaltenssucht (n = 9), bestimmte Aktivitäten oder Nutzungserfahrungen (n = 9), zwanghafte Nutzung (n = 6), ein Ungleichgewicht zwischen Online- und Offline-Interaktionen (zu viele oder zu wenige Online-Interaktionen; n = 4) sowie reine Nutzung bzw. Nutzungsfrequenz (n = 4). Selbst die Nutzung von Dating-Apps aus sexuellen Motiven oder zur Partnersuche war mit negativen Korrelaten assoziiert.
Untersucht wurden unter anderem folgende negative Korrelate: (1) Stimmung und emotionale Probleme (n = 11), (2) Ängste (n = 9), (3) Nutzungsmotive und andere Medienvariablen (n = 9), (4) unerwünschte Verhaltensweisen (n = 8), (5) Persönlichkeit (n = 8), (6) Selbstbezogene Einstellungen (n = 7), (7) Partnerwahl (n = 5), (8) Sexualität (n = 5) sowie (9) interpersonelle Korrelate (n = 4).

Methodisch enthalten die am häufigsten eingesetzten Skalen – zur Messung motivationsbasierter Nutzung und der sechs Komponenten der Verhaltenssucht – bereits Lebensprobleme in ihrer Operationalisierung problematischer Dating-App-Nutzung (z. B. Nutzung zur Ablenkung von Problemen oder Konflikte aufgrund der Nutzung). Von den 32 Studien waren lediglich drei randomisierte Experimente. Alle Befragungsstudien erhoben Dating-App-Variablen nur zu einem Messzeitpunkt (querschnittlich) und untersuchten ausschließlich Between-Person-Effekte statt Within-Person-Dynamiken.

Schlussfolgerungen:
Die Forschung wird derzeit stark von der Untersuchung von Nutzungsmotiven dominiert. Um schädliche Medieneffekte adäquat zu erfassen, sollten Mediennutzung und negative Konsequenzen getrennt gemessen werden. Viele Motivskalen sind jedoch als Bewältigung unerwünschter Zustände (z. B. Nutzung, um Probleme zu vergessen) oder zur Verstärkung erwünschter Zustände (z. B. Selbstwertsteigerung) formuliert. Ebenso integrieren Verhaltenssucht-Skalen Lebensprobleme (z. B. Konflikte durch Nutzung). Dadurch werden Prädiktoren und Outcomes konzeptuell vermischt. Zukünftige Literaturübersichten oder Meta-Analysen sollten daher nur Ergebnisse von Skalen berücksichtigen, die Mediennutzung valide von ihren negativen Folgen trennen.

Insgesamt erfordert die Forschung zu Online-Dating-Sucht – und zu Internetabhängigkeit generell – theoretisch fundierte Definitionen sowie experimentelle und longitudinale Studien, die sowohl Between- als auch Within-Person-Effekte modellieren.

Titel in Übersetzung	Problematisches Online-Dating: Eine systematische Übersicht zu Definitionen, Korrelaten und Studiendesigns
Originalsprache	Englisch
Publikationsstatus	Veröffentlicht - 04 Apr. 2025
Veranstaltung	ÖGPP Kongress 2025 - Vienna, Österreich Dauer: 04 Apr. 2025 → 04 Apr. 2025

Konferenz

Konferenz	ÖGPP Kongress 2025
Land/Gebiet	Österreich
Ort	Vienna
Zeitraum	04.04.2025 → 04.04.2025

Dieses zitieren

@conference{51e57c4a84fc49d4b463da82a7b07b92,

title = "Problematic Online Dating: A Systematic Review of Definitions, Correlates, and Study Designs",

abstract = "Background: Users describe mobile dating apps as addictive, and researchers have attempted to formalize compulsive dating app use as a behavioral addiction. However, the concept of online dating addiction remains debated. Objectives: This systematic literature review synthesized research on problematized online dating behaviors with a specific focus on (1) definitions and measurement of problematic dating app use, (2) the examined adverse correlates, and (3) study designs. Methods: We searched 16 databases and identified 263 records related to problematic online dating. Twenty-nine papers – published between 2009 and 2024 – met inclusion criteria. They covered 32 studies investigating problematic dating app use. Sample sizes varied between 64 to 4057 and participant ages ranged between 13 to 80 years, while many samples were aged between 18 and 35. Results: Researchers problematized the following online dating behaviors (in descending order of frequency): Use for certain motives (in n = 10 records), problematic use in the sense of behavioral addiction (n = 9), certain activities or experiences (n = 9), compulsive use (n = 6), a disbalance between offline and online interactions (too many or too few online interactions, n = 4), and mere use or frequency (n = 4). Even using dating apps for sexual motivations and relationship-seeking was linked to adverse correlates. Scholars have examined various adverse correlates, including (1) mood and emotional issues (n = 11), (2) anxieties (n = 9), (3) user motives and other media variables (n = 9), (4) undesired behaviors (n = 8), (5) personality (n = 8), (6) self-attitudes (n = 7), (7) partner choice (n = 5), (8) sexuality (n = 5), (9) interpersonal correlates (n = 4). Methodologically, the most common scales (measuring use for certain motives and the six-component behavioral addiction items) include life problems within their measurement of problematic dating app use (e.g., use to forget problems, conflict due to use). Of 32 studies, only three were randomized experiments. All surveys measured dating app variables only at a single time point (cross-sectional) and focused on between-person effects rather than within person-dynamics. Conclusions: Research on user motives dominates the field. To understand harmful media effects, researchers should measure media use and harmful consequences separately. However, motives are often worded as coping with an undesired state (e.g., use to forget problems) or enhancing a desired state (e.g., use for self-esteem enhancement). Similarly, behavioral addiction scales include life problems (e.g., conflict due to use). These scales thus conflate predictor and outcome. So, future literature reviews or meta-analyses that test correlations should include only results of scales that validly distinguish media use from its adverse outcomes. Overall, research on internet dating addiction – and internet addiction in general – requires theoretically grounded definitions as well as experimental and longitudinal studies modelling between- and within-person effects. ",

author = "Thomas, \{Marina Frederike\} and Sylvia Doerfler and Gloria Mittmann and Verena Steiner-Hofbauer",

year = "2025",

month = apr,

day = "4",

language = "English",

note = "{\"O}GPP Kongress 2025 ; Conference date: 04-04-2025 Through 04-04-2025",

}

TY - CONF

T1 - Problematic Online Dating: A Systematic Review of Definitions, Correlates, and Study Designs

AU - Thomas, Marina Frederike

AU - Mittmann, Gloria

AU - Steiner-Hofbauer, Verena

A2 - Doerfler, Sylvia

PY - 2025/4/4

Y1 - 2025/4/4

N2 - Background: Users describe mobile dating apps as addictive, and researchers have attempted to formalize compulsive dating app use as a behavioral addiction. However, the concept of online dating addiction remains debated. Objectives: This systematic literature review synthesized research on problematized online dating behaviors with a specific focus on (1) definitions and measurement of problematic dating app use, (2) the examined adverse correlates, and (3) study designs. Methods: We searched 16 databases and identified 263 records related to problematic online dating. Twenty-nine papers – published between 2009 and 2024 – met inclusion criteria. They covered 32 studies investigating problematic dating app use. Sample sizes varied between 64 to 4057 and participant ages ranged between 13 to 80 years, while many samples were aged between 18 and 35. Results: Researchers problematized the following online dating behaviors (in descending order of frequency): Use for certain motives (in n = 10 records), problematic use in the sense of behavioral addiction (n = 9), certain activities or experiences (n = 9), compulsive use (n = 6), a disbalance between offline and online interactions (too many or too few online interactions, n = 4), and mere use or frequency (n = 4). Even using dating apps for sexual motivations and relationship-seeking was linked to adverse correlates. Scholars have examined various adverse correlates, including (1) mood and emotional issues (n = 11), (2) anxieties (n = 9), (3) user motives and other media variables (n = 9), (4) undesired behaviors (n = 8), (5) personality (n = 8), (6) self-attitudes (n = 7), (7) partner choice (n = 5), (8) sexuality (n = 5), (9) interpersonal correlates (n = 4). Methodologically, the most common scales (measuring use for certain motives and the six-component behavioral addiction items) include life problems within their measurement of problematic dating app use (e.g., use to forget problems, conflict due to use). Of 32 studies, only three were randomized experiments. All surveys measured dating app variables only at a single time point (cross-sectional) and focused on between-person effects rather than within person-dynamics. Conclusions: Research on user motives dominates the field. To understand harmful media effects, researchers should measure media use and harmful consequences separately. However, motives are often worded as coping with an undesired state (e.g., use to forget problems) or enhancing a desired state (e.g., use for self-esteem enhancement). Similarly, behavioral addiction scales include life problems (e.g., conflict due to use). These scales thus conflate predictor and outcome. So, future literature reviews or meta-analyses that test correlations should include only results of scales that validly distinguish media use from its adverse outcomes. Overall, research on internet dating addiction – and internet addiction in general – requires theoretically grounded definitions as well as experimental and longitudinal studies modelling between- and within-person effects.

AB - Background: Users describe mobile dating apps as addictive, and researchers have attempted to formalize compulsive dating app use as a behavioral addiction. However, the concept of online dating addiction remains debated. Objectives: This systematic literature review synthesized research on problematized online dating behaviors with a specific focus on (1) definitions and measurement of problematic dating app use, (2) the examined adverse correlates, and (3) study designs. Methods: We searched 16 databases and identified 263 records related to problematic online dating. Twenty-nine papers – published between 2009 and 2024 – met inclusion criteria. They covered 32 studies investigating problematic dating app use. Sample sizes varied between 64 to 4057 and participant ages ranged between 13 to 80 years, while many samples were aged between 18 and 35. Results: Researchers problematized the following online dating behaviors (in descending order of frequency): Use for certain motives (in n = 10 records), problematic use in the sense of behavioral addiction (n = 9), certain activities or experiences (n = 9), compulsive use (n = 6), a disbalance between offline and online interactions (too many or too few online interactions, n = 4), and mere use or frequency (n = 4). Even using dating apps for sexual motivations and relationship-seeking was linked to adverse correlates. Scholars have examined various adverse correlates, including (1) mood and emotional issues (n = 11), (2) anxieties (n = 9), (3) user motives and other media variables (n = 9), (4) undesired behaviors (n = 8), (5) personality (n = 8), (6) self-attitudes (n = 7), (7) partner choice (n = 5), (8) sexuality (n = 5), (9) interpersonal correlates (n = 4). Methodologically, the most common scales (measuring use for certain motives and the six-component behavioral addiction items) include life problems within their measurement of problematic dating app use (e.g., use to forget problems, conflict due to use). Of 32 studies, only three were randomized experiments. All surveys measured dating app variables only at a single time point (cross-sectional) and focused on between-person effects rather than within person-dynamics. Conclusions: Research on user motives dominates the field. To understand harmful media effects, researchers should measure media use and harmful consequences separately. However, motives are often worded as coping with an undesired state (e.g., use to forget problems) or enhancing a desired state (e.g., use for self-esteem enhancement). Similarly, behavioral addiction scales include life problems (e.g., conflict due to use). These scales thus conflate predictor and outcome. So, future literature reviews or meta-analyses that test correlations should include only results of scales that validly distinguish media use from its adverse outcomes. Overall, research on internet dating addiction – and internet addiction in general – requires theoretically grounded definitions as well as experimental and longitudinal studies modelling between- and within-person effects.

M3 - Oral presentation at a conference

T2 - ÖGPP Kongress 2025

Y2 - 4 April 2025 through 4 April 2025

ER -

Problematic Online Dating: A Systematic Review of Definitions, Correlates, and Study Designs

Abstract

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