Couples who meet offline tend to have more satisfying relationships

As online dating becomes increasingly widespread across the globe, a new international study suggests that how couples meet may shape the quality of their romantic relationships. Published in Telematics and Informatics, the research found that couples who met offline — in more traditional ways — tended to report slightly higher levels of relationship satisfaction and experienced love than those who met online. The findings are based on nationally representative samples from 50 countries, providing one of the most comprehensive examinations to date of how digital dating intersects with intimacy.

The study stems from growing scientific interest in how technology is reshaping human relationships. Over the past two decades, dating websites and mobile apps have become common tools for initiating romantic connections. In countries like the United States, online platforms have already become the most common way heterosexual couples meet. But while these platforms have opened new avenues for connection — expanding social circles, bridging geographic divides, and offering more diverse partner options — it remains unclear how these shifts influence long-term relationship outcomes.

Prior studies have painted a mixed picture. Some research suggested that couples who met online had stronger marriages and lower divorce rates. Other work has indicated little difference or even lower satisfaction among online-initiated couples. Many of these studies, however, have relied on limited cultural contexts — often drawing samples only from Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) countries. The current study sought to address these gaps by examining online and offline relationship formation across a broad and diverse international sample.

“The way people meet romantic partners has changed dramatically in recent years – there’s a good chance you or someone close to you has met the love of their life online,” said study author Marta Kowal, a postdoctoral researcher at the IDN Being Human Lab at the University of Wrocław.

“Yet, despite the growing popularity of online dating, we still know relatively little about its long-term implications. Early studies from over a decade ago suggested that ‘onliners’ were more satisfied in their relationships than those who met offline, but more recent findings have often shown the opposite pattern. We wanted to explore this further using nationally representative data from 50 countries to see whether and how meeting online relates to relationship quality across different cultures.”

For their study, the researchers recruited over 10,000 adults from 50 countries, using representative quotas based on age, gender, and urban versus rural residence. Of these, 6,646 individuals were in a romantic relationship at the time of the study and formed the focus of the analysis.

Participants completed online surveys that asked how they met their current partner (online or offline), how satisfied they were with their relationship, and how intensely they experienced feelings of intimacy, passion, and commitment — core components of love. These dimensions were measured using the Triangular Love Scale, a well-established tool in psychological research. The researchers also collected data on participants’ age, gender, education level, socioeconomic status, and how long they had been with their partner.

To ensure a fair comparison between online and offline couples, the team used statistical controls and a technique called propensity score matching, which attempts to account for preexisting differences between the two groups. This approach helps reduce the influence of confounding factors, such as relationship duration or economic background, that might otherwise distort the findings.

The analysis showed that 16% of participants overall had met their partner online, a number that rose to 21% among those whose relationships began after 2010. The share varied widely by country, ranging from 33% in Poland to just 7% in Ghana. Among Americans in the study, about 50% of relationships that started in 2023 began online.

People who met online were more likely to be in newer relationships and to report lower socioeconomic status. But the researchers found no significant differences in online meeting rates based on gender, age, education level, or whether participants lived in rural versus urban areas. This suggests that the digitalization of dating has become accessible across diverse demographic groups.

“I was most surprised to find no evidence that younger people are more likely to meet their partners online,” Kowal told PsyPost. “The rates were strikingly similar across age groups, which suggests that online dating has become both accessible and socially accepted at any age worldwide.”

Across the global sample, participants who met their partner offline reported slightly higher levels of relationship satisfaction and greater intensity in all three love components: intimacy, passion, and commitment. These differences were statistically significant and held even after accounting for age, gender, relationship length, socioeconomic status, and other variables.

While the differences in satisfaction, intimacy, and passion were relatively small, the gap in commitment was somewhat more pronounced. This pattern held across most of the 50 countries included in the study, suggesting a consistent link between offline meeting contexts and stronger relationship bonds.

Post-hoc analyses revealed that these differences were more pronounced among men and among people over the age of 33. For younger participants and women, the gap between online and offline couples was smaller.

“On average, couples who met offline reported slightly higher relationship satisfaction and love than those who met online, with the largest difference in commitment,” Kowal explained. “However, we need to keep in mind that these are average trends, not fixed destiny. Many couples who met online have strong, happy relationships. Our results suggest that the way a relationship begins may be linked to later experiences, but it is only one of many factors that shape relationship quality.”

Why might online-initiated relationships be slightly less satisfying? The study does not provide definitive explanations, but the researchers suggest several possible factors that might account for the observed differences.

One possibility is that couples who meet online tend to be less similar in background — including education, religion, and ethnicity — than those who meet through shared social networks. Lower levels of “homogamy,” or partner similarity, have previously been associated with lower relationship quality.

Another contributing factor could be the nature of online dating itself. While offering a larger pool of potential partners may seem beneficial, too much choice can sometimes lead to indecision, regret, or reduced satisfaction with one’s final choice. Previous research has suggested that people who perceive they have many alternative partners may be more likely to compare their current partner unfavorably.

Some dating apps and websites rely on algorithms to suggest matches, but their decision-making processes are often opaque, leading users to engage in strategic “game-playing” — such as altering photos or bios to improve match rates. This behavior may shift focus away from genuine connection and toward a more transactional view of dating.

There is also evidence that online profiles often include misrepresentations. When expectations built on digital personas clash with reality, it can erode trust and satisfaction. And in long-term relationships, individuals who are accustomed to browsing for partners online may be more likely to continue imagining or seeking alternatives.

Despite its strengths, the study has some limitations. The researchers used a simple binary categorization of meeting context — online or offline — without distinguishing between different types of online platforms. It’s possible that relationships formed on traditional dating websites differ from those started on mobile apps or social media. Future research could examine these differences in more detail.

The study was also cross-sectional, meaning it captured a snapshot in time rather than following couples over the course of their relationship. In future research, “it would be great to look at how different online platforms, from dating apps to traditional websites and even online games, relate to relationship quality, and whether certain motivations for using them predict better outcomes,” Kowal said. “Longitudinal studies will also be key to understanding how relationships that start online evolve over time, and under what conditions they thrive.”

“Meeting online can bring together people who might never have met otherwise, which is a huge opportunity. Our findings aren’t a warning against online dating, but a reminder that fulfilling, lasting relationships depend on how we nurture and care for our partner and relationship – no matter where the first “hello” took place.”

The study, “Meeting partners online is related to lower relationship satisfaction and love: Data from 50 countries,” was authored by Marta Kowal, Piotr Sorokowski, Adam Bode, Michal Misiak, W.P. Malecki, Agnieszka Sorokowska, and S. Craig Roberts.