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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In the eye of the swiper: a preliminary analysis of the relationship between dating app use and dimensions of body image Rachel F. Rodgers1,2 · Jenna Campagna1 · Raihaan Attawala1 · Chloe Richard1 · Chris Kakfa1 · Christie Rizzo1 Received: 3 April 2019 / Accepted: 18 July 2019 © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019
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. Keywords Social media · Body image · Gender · Dating apps
Introduction In recent years, mobile dating applications (dating apps) have become increasingly popular among young adults [1]. As a form of social media, dating apps are particularly interesting to study in relation to body image given their explicit goal of facilitating rapid appraisals and evaluations from others based on visual profiles. Thus, dating apps place individuals in a context of being evaluated for their worth based almost exclusively on their appearance. This experience can be conceptualized within objectification theory [2, 3], which holds that being evaluated based on appearance is associated with negative outcomes in terms of body image including body shame, and self-surveillance [3]. In addition to being appraised and evaluated by other users, dating app use frequently involves being exposed to numerous profiles of other users, in large part curated * Rachel F. Rodgers [email protected] 1
Department of Applied Psychology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Department of Psychiatric Emergency and Acute Care, Lapeyronie Hospital, CHRU, Montpellier, France
2
to be consistent with thin-and-lean appearance ideals. This repeated exposure to unrealistic profiles is likely to encourage upward appearance comparisons [4]. Exposure to images of thin-and-lean appearance ideals, and engaging in unfavorable comparisons with these images, has also been shown to be associated with poor body image and the internalization of media ideals [4, 5]. This is consistent with the predictions of sociocultural theory, which holds that repeated exposure to unattainable appeara
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