Swipe Right, Feel Wrong? Examining The Effects of Dating App Usage on Psychological Well-Being at a Predominantly White Institution

Abstract

The goal of this thesis is to explore the potential relationship between swipe-based dating app usage and psychological well-being among college students at a predominantly White institution (PWI), with a specific focus on how race may influence this relationship. We hypothesized that dating app usage would be negatively correlated with self-esteem and well-being while positively correlated with loneliness. Additionally, race was examined as a moderating variable, predicting that students of color that used dating apps would experience more negative well-being outcomes than their White peers. Using survey data from undergraduate students (N = 385), analyses revealed a small but statistically significant negative association between dating app usage and psychological well-being. It was found that race moderated the relationship between dating app usage and loneliness such that students of color reported lower loneliness scores relative to White students. These findings contribute to the growing literature on online dating and psychological well-being, suggesting that while dating app usage may have modest associations with well-being, racial identity plays a complex role in shaping these experiences at PWIs. Future research should explore the underlying mechanisms driving these effects and consider additional demographic and psychological factors influencing dating app engagement.