Abstract
Mobile dating applications (MDAs) are popular relationship-seeking tools among emerging adults. As offline relationship dynamics are increasingly mirrored in the context of mobile dating, MDA users are also known to experience online romantic rejection, including ghosting. The consequences of such online romantic rejection and its underlying mechanisms are still unclear. As such, the present study explored the associations between being ghosted on an MDA and emerging adults’ self-esteem, by drawing on the Disillusionment model and the Expectancy Violations Theory. Cross-sectional data were gathered through the dissemination of an online survey during April 2021 in Belgium. The analytical sample consisted of 268 Belgian respondents (Mage = 23.17, female = 68.7%). Hypotheses were tested through multivariate linear regression analyses using Hayes’ PROCESS Macro. Results indicated that being ghosted on an MDA was indirectly related to decreased self-esteem, through disillusionment with one’s own romantic appeal, if the ghosting was experienced as a highly unexpected, negative and impactful event. Given that ghosting seems to become increasingly prevalent, one can wonder what the cumulative impact of being ghosted on an MDA may be on users’ self-esteem if they remain active MDA users for a longer period of time. Hence, future research should examine these associations longitudinally. Moreover, future research is encouraged to explore potential interacting individual differences (e.g., self-perceived dating app success) and specific interpersonal communication dynamics (e.g., frequency of communicating).
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The pre-data collection registration may be accessed on OSF through the following link: https://osf.io/kue96/?view_only=60ac9f1247d34a9cb819ad2e2cc11124
Dataset and syntax can be accessed via this link: https://osf.io/d7562/?view_only=e1fa6b32ff8d45b9bc13b8f755e61731
Tables and figures on OSF can be accessed via this link: https://osf.io/d7562/?view_only=b0e266e9f238410eb20ef98d77d5f86e
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This work was supported by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO Vlaanderen) under Grant G077420N. We thankfully acknowledge the foundation’s support.
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Konings, F., Sumter, S. & Vandenbosch, L. It’s not You, it’s Me: Experiences with Ghosting on Mobile Dating Applications and Belgian Emerging Adults’ Self-Esteem. Sexuality & Culture 27, 1328–1351 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-023-10065-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-023-10065-3