These common insecurities may be fueling dating app obsession

A new study published in Computers in Human Behavior sheds light on how young adults’ psychological vulnerabilities influence the way they use dating apps. The researchers found that individuals with high levels of social appearance anxiety, social interaction anxiety, and sensitivity to rejection are more likely to view dating apps as useful for building relationships and managing self-presentation. At the same time, these vulnerabilities are linked to a greater risk of problematic use, with rejection sensitivity playing a key role in this connection.

Dating apps have become one of the most popular ways for young people to meet potential partners, with millions of users worldwide. While many people use these platforms to explore new relationships, some are drawn to them because they offer features that reduce the pressure of face-to-face interaction. Past studies have suggested that individuals who struggle with anxiety, low self-esteem, or fear of rejection may find dating apps especially appealing. Yet, there has been limited research into how these vulnerabilities interact with the perceived benefits of dating apps and the risks of overuse.

To explore this question, the researchers conducted a large online study in Taiwan, focusing on young adults between the ages of 18 and 35. They aimed to understand how three psychological traits—social appearance anxiety, social interaction anxiety, and rejection sensitivity—were connected to dating app behavior. The study examined both positive outcomes, such as the ability to make connections and control one’s image, and negative outcomes, such as excessive or compulsive use of dating apps.

A total of 5,427 participants completed a detailed questionnaire about their experiences with dating apps. The sample was predominantly male (around 87%), with an average age of just over 27 years. All participants had used a dating app within the past month, and more than half reported using apps daily. The researchers assessed each participant’s level of social appearance anxiety, social interaction anxiety, and rejection sensitivity, along with their beliefs about the benefits of digital communication, their preference for online social interaction, and any problematic behaviors related to dating app use.

The study used a method called structural equation modeling to analyze the relationships among these variables. This approach allowed the researchers to test how different psychological traits influenced participants’ perceptions of dating app benefits and their likelihood of problematic use.

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The results showed that individuals with higher levels of social appearance anxiety and social interaction anxiety were more likely to experience rejection sensitivity. This means that young people who worry about their appearance or have trouble with social interactions also tend to be more sensitive to cues that suggest they are being rejected. In turn, this rejection sensitivity was linked to a greater risk of problematic dating app use.

At the same time, all three psychological traits—appearance anxiety, interaction anxiety, and rejection sensitivity—were associated with stronger beliefs that dating apps are helpful for building relationships and controlling self-presentation. In particular, users with higher anxiety felt that apps made it easier to form connections and manage how they appeared to others. These benefits, in turn, were associated with a preference for interacting with potential partners through dating apps rather than in person.

The study also revealed that the more people believed dating apps helped them build relationships and manage their self-image, the more likely they were to prefer online interaction over face-to-face communication. While these perceived benefits can be positive in the short term, the study found that they may contribute to excessive reliance on dating apps over time.

Importantly, the study showed that rejection sensitivity partly explains the link between social anxiety and problematic dating app use. In other words, when people are sensitive to rejection, they may use dating apps in ways that are harder to control, even if they also see the apps as helpful.

These findings support two competing ideas in the field of online communication. The “social compensation” hypothesis suggests that people who struggle with face-to-face interaction use digital tools to fill in the gaps and improve their social lives. By contrast, the “social enhancement” hypothesis argues that digital tools tend to benefit people who are already socially skilled, while those with existing vulnerabilities may end up worse off.

This study found evidence for both perspectives. On one hand, young adults with social anxiety and sensitivity to rejection appear to benefit from the ability to build relationships and manage their self-presentation through apps. On the other hand, these same traits also make them more vulnerable to problematic use. Rejection sensitivity, in particular, seems to amplify the risk of using dating apps in ways that could harm mental health or well-being.

Although the study was conducted in Taiwan, the psychological dynamics it explored are likely relevant across cultures. The authors note that young adulthood is a formative time for building relationships and navigating social pressures, making this age group especially vulnerable to the double-edged nature of dating app use.

The researchers acknowledge limitations in their study. Because the data were collected at a single point in time, it’s not possible to determine whether dating app use causes psychological issues or simply reflects existing problems. The sample was also skewed toward male users and may not reflect the experiences of other gender groups or older adults. In addition, the findings were based on self-reported data, which could be influenced by social desirability or memory biases.

Future research could explore how these relationships evolve over time or in different cultural settings. The authors also suggest that developers of dating apps could use these findings to design features that support mental well-being, especially for users who may be at higher risk of problematic use. Interventions aimed at reducing rejection sensitivity or improving real-world social skills might also help people use dating apps in healthier ways.

The study, “Too vulnerable to resist: Problematic use of dating apps associated with social appearance anxiety, social interaction anxiety, and rejection sensitivity,” was authored by Yi-Ting Huang and An-Di Gong.