Abstract
Poor outcomes have been associated with the absence of a romantic partner, yet the COVID-19 pandemic triggered unprecedented restrictions on people’s ability to establish new romantic relationships. Some research on pandemic-driven shifts in digital media use has considered dating technologies; however, this has been limited and much has focused on sexual activity. This review sought to synthesise quantitative and qualitative data on single adults’ use of dating platforms for the purposes of romantic partner selection during the lockdowns. Literature specific to the population was sparse—a notable finding in itself—with emerging evidence suggesting that people in this group may have been particularly adversely affected by restrictions. Online dating technologies offered potential routes to pursue romantic relationships offline, albeit in the context of complex, dynamic risk negotiations and a particular focus on compatibility. While some users found creative ways to pursue relationships, they could also experience acutely heightened emotional stress and judgement from others. The review found mixed evidence of changes in app use. Overall, results suggested that single adults seeking romantic relationships online during the pandemic were an understudied population. As a pandemic is only one of several environmental factors which might limit or affect social interactions, this indicates a significant gap. Implications of findings are discussed along with recommendations for future work.
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Anderson, B.E., Ross, P.D.S. Looking for Lockdown Love Online: A Literature Review on Virtual Partner Selection During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sexuality & Culture 28, 1289–1310 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-023-10173-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-023-10173-0