Online dating is poison for your brain. In a study published in journal Sexes, researchers found evidence suggesting that people with mental health issues like depression or hypersexual tendencies are using dating apps as coping mechanisms or to fulfill their habits.
Hypersexual behaviors are compulsive sexual urges and thoughts that is commonly known as “sex addiction.”
For their study, researchers recruited 1000 voluneteers between the ages of 18 and 60 years old without known severe mental health issues. The participants completed questionnaires about their sociodemographics including questions about relationship status, sexual orientation, current dating app activity or if they it at all, contraceptive use, etc. In addition, they also filled out surveys that measure depression and measures of hypersexuality.
For the hypersexuality component, the researchers used the Hypersexual Behavior Inventory (HBI) which assess hypersexuality based on three factors: Coping (using sexual behaviors as a way to respond to distress), control (assessing a lack of self-control regarding one’s sexual behavior, and consequences (how their behavior has interfered with their everyday lives.
They found that 12% of responders were using dating apps. They found that dating app users were more likely to have casual sexual partners , whereas non app users were more likely to have stable sexual relationships. Dating app users also scored higher in each of the HBI components.
The investigators also found that dating app users also had higher symptoms of depression and more likely to be severely depressed.
Demographically, dating app users were more likely to be male, younger than 40, and single.
While there is no shame in sex, or lots of it thereof, dating apps can fuel an unhealthy obsession and relationship with sex. In addition, the study also alludes to the fact that dating apps are highly associated with depression.
Get off the apps, they’re not mentally healthy for you.
G Ciocca et al. Hypersexual behavior and depression symptoms among dating app users. Sexes. https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes3020023
