Are Dating Applications Making Gay Guys Unpleasant?

Are Dating Applications Making Gay Guys Unpleasant?

Published December 31, 2019 | Examined by Devon Frye

A brand-new research of gay men's use of dating apps raises questions about whether the technology planned to make our (love) lives simpler may be hindering of happiness. In a current study published in Psychology & Sexuality, scientists from the U.K. checked out the motivations and also end results connected with using different gay dating apps amongst a sample of 191 gay and also bisexual guys .1 The scientists had an interest in far better recognizing the conflicting study to day that indicates both the favorable and also negative consequences of using gay dating apps, such as Grindr.

It wasn't long ago that individuals within the LGBTQ neighborhood went to the forefront of on-line dating, embracing it earlier and extra regularly than their heterosexual equivalents. To lots of in the LGBTQ area, the chance to locate dates online provided raised security by understanding a potential day's sex-related identification before inquiring out, enabled individuals to connect beyond the bar scene, and also made it possible to connect with individuals across geographic limits. While online dating may have started with a focus on looking for enchanting relationships, numerous have expressed worry that the introduction of smart device dating applications that enable users to see others based upon closeness has actually put a better concentrate on more surface sexual connections.

While there is absolutely nothing incorrect with such relationships, the prominence of apps catering to sex-related relationships might be making it a lot more difficult for people seeking longterm connections or relationships within the LGBT neighborhood. Consequently, scientists have actually started examining exactly how an individual's specific goals and also reasons for utilizing gay dating apps may play a important function in figuring out whether making use of gay dating applications has favorable or adverse effects for their total wellbeing.

A lot of the men in the study were single at the time of getting involved (60.2 percent), while 21 percent reported that they remained in an open relationship as well as 18.8 percent reported that they were in an special relationship. Individuals completed an online questionnaire in which they responded to concerns about their feeling of belonging within the LGBT community, their self-worth, isolation, life contentment, as well as their total frequency and intensity of using various gay dating applications. For instance, they were asked how commonly they logged right into gay dating applications as well as their primary inspiration for doing so, from which they might choose the adhering to options: to make new friends, to meet people to have sex with, to find someone to date, to kill time, or to connect with the gay community. Participants could also enter their own reason for using gay dating apps if none of the provided responses were suitable.

The participants in the study reported logging into gay dating apps frequently, with 71.2 percent logging in at least once per day, with the majority of participants logging in 2 to 4 times per day. Just under half of the sample indicated that their primary use for the apps was to meet people for sex. The second most frequently cited reason was to find someone to date, however, this was only selected as a primary reason by 18.9 percent of the participants in the study. The least frequently cited reason for using gay dating apps was to build a sense of connection with the LGBT community.

When looking at all the participants in the sample together, the frequency with which men logged onto the gay dating apps was associated with greater loneliness, reduced life satisfaction, and a reduced sense of connection to the LGBT community. However, given the varied reasons for using gay dating apps, the researchers wanted to see if these associations were the same for individuals who wanted to use the apps primarily to find sexual partners compared to those using the apps for other reasons.

Men in the study reporting that they use gay dating apps primarily to find sexual partners reported higher levels of self-esteem and life satisfaction, as well as lower levels of loneliness when compared to men who indicated their primary use for gay dating apps was any of the other reasons unrelated to seeking a sexual partner (e.g., to make friends, find a relationship, connect with the gay community, etc).

Thus, the question of whether using gay dating apps has negative or positive associations with the well-being of their users really appears to depend on the users' goals and motivations for using the apps in the first place. This makes sense-- if the apps are primarily designed to connect users for brief sexual encounters, then those using the apps to find sex partners will likely be the most satisfied with the outcomes. On the other hand, men seeking relationships, friendships, or community may not be best served through such apps and therefore may experience frustration upon using gay dating apps, which may contribute to reduced well-being. Of course, the findings could also suggest that individuals with lower self-esteem and overall satisfaction with life tend to use the apps differently, perhaps being more likely to seek out relationships rather than casual sex encounters. Additional research would be needed to determine the precise direction of the associations found in this study.

However, the research still tells us something important. There's nothing wrong with the gay dating apps in so far as they provide the service that they are most often used for: connecting individuals looking for sexual encounters. However, this study also points to a need for more apps to enter the market targeted at gay men who are seeking other types of relationships, including friendships, long term romantic partners, and community building. Building apps and platforms specifically for this purpose may create a more balanced experience for gay and bisexual men seeking different types of relationships. Indeed, many men may opt to use both types of apps, one to satisfy their desire for sexual encounters and another to seek out long-term partners and friends.

¹ The study did not use terms like gay/straight/bisexual, but rather asked men about their attractions and included male participants who were either sexually attracted to men only (90.1 percent) or sexually attracted to both men and women (9.9 percent).

Zervoulis, K., Smith, D. S., Reed, R., & Dinos, S. (2019 ). Use of 'gay dating apps' and its relationship with individual well-being and sense of community in men who have sex with men. Psychology & Sexuality, 1-15.

Custer, L., Holmberg, D., Blair, K.L., & Orbuch, T. (2008 ). "So how did you two meet?" Narratives of relationship initiation. In Susan Sprecher, Amy Wenzel & John Harvey (Eds.), Handbook of Relationship Initiation. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

. Karen Blair, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of psychology at Trent University. Her research examines the social determinants of health throughout the lifespan within the context of social relationships.

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