Users Of Vulnerable Dating Apps Experience Depression

Illustration of dating application users prone to depression (India Times)

JAKARTA - Dating apps in recent years have been popular as a way to find a mate in the modern era. However, a recent study reveals the use of dating apps can trigger mental health problems to depression.

The study was conducted at Flinders University, where Zac promise and colleagues carried out a systematic review of 45 studies that saw the use of dating apps. The review is associated with body images and mental health such as depression.

The body's image is a person's perception or feeling of his own appearance, which can be related to the size, shape, and attraction of the body.

Through 45 analysed studies published in the period 2016 to 2023, 29 of them studied the impact of dating applications on mental health and well-being. Then 22 of them discussed the impact on the body's image.

The results of the analysis conducted found 85 percent (19 of 22) of body image studies found significant negative relationships between the use of body safety and image applications. Meanwhile, nearly 50 percent (14 out of 29) of mental health studies found negative correlations.

"The study noted that there are relationships with problems including dissatisfaction with the body, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem," saidlin, quoted by The Conversation, Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

Researchers have several theories that are thought to trigger an increase in the risk of mental safety problems to self-image in application users. One of them is related to photos that are used as the main visual media to assess potential dating friends.

The emphasis on visual content on dating apps on the continuation can lead users to view their appearance as more important, than who they are as individuals. This process is called self-ajection," he said.

Someone who has an objectification pays attention to their appearance excessively. This has the potential to cause dissatisfaction with the body, feeling ashamed of the body, or other problems related to the body.

In addition, mental health problems when using dating applications are also related to the rejections experienced. This rejection can be implied, explicit, to discrimination and harassment.

Users of dating apps who often experience rejection will be more likely to have feelings of inferiority. This causes them to experience depression and anxiety.