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In the eye of the swiper: a preliminary analysis of the relationship between dating app use and dimensions of body image

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Abstract

Background

Dating apps are largely visual platforms and based on evaluations of the attractiveness of users. Thus, engaging with this type of social media may be associated with body image concerns.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the relationship between dating app use and body image.

Methods

College students (n = 170, 50% females) reported on dating app use, as well as body shame, surveillance, body satisfaction, media ideal internalization, and controllability beliefs related to weight/shape.

Results

Among males, frequent checking of dating apps was positively correlated with body shame and negatively with beliefs regarding weight/shape controllability. Media internalization was negatively correlated with experiencing negative feelings when using dating apps, and positively with positive feelings. Few associations emerged among females.

Conclusion

Dating app use seems most tightly associated with body image concerns among males.

Level of evidence

Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the entire applied psychology program for eating and appearance research for their contributions to this project.

Funding

This study was not supported by any funding.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Psychology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Rachel F. Rodgers, Jenna Campagna, Raihaan Attawala, Chloe Richard, Chris Kakfa & Christie Rizzo

  2. Department of Psychiatric Emergency and Acute Care, Lapeyronie Hospital, CHRU, Montpellier, France

    Rachel F. Rodgers

Authors
  1. Rachel F. Rodgers
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  2. Jenna Campagna
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  3. Raihaan Attawala
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  4. Chloe Richard
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  5. Chris Kakfa
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  6. Christie Rizzo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rachel F. Rodgers.

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Conflict of interest

All of the authors declare that no conflict of interest exists.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Rodgers, R.F., Campagna, J., Attawala, R. et al. In the eye of the swiper: a preliminary analysis of the relationship between dating app use and dimensions of body image. Eat Weight Disord 25, 1469–1473 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-019-00754-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-019-00754-0

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