Tinder men are not all they seem: Male users of the app have low self-esteem 

  • Users of the dating app report lower levels of satisfaction with their looks
  • Study looked at more than 1,300 users who completed questionnaires
  • Researchers say people with lower self-esteem may be more drawn to these types of apps 

By Fiona Macrae Science Editor For The Daily Mail

Published: 15:00 EST, 4 August 2016 | Updated: 09:44 EST, 5 August 2016

They might be tall, dark and handsome but men on the dating app Tinder suffer from low self-esteem, a study found.

A survey of more than 1,300 men and women revealed that those who use the highly popular smartphone app tend to be less happy with their looks.

Psychologists warn the app could be bad for your health, with users drawn into a downward spiral of physical comparisons.

Swipe right? Psychologists in the US warn the popular smartphone dating app Tinder (illustrated, stock image) could be bad for your health, with users drawn into a downward spiral of negative body image

Swipe right? Psychologists in the US warn the popular smartphone dating app Tinder (illustrated, stock image) could be bad for your health, with users drawn into a downward spiral of negative body image

TINDER AND SELF-ESTEEM 

Researchers looked at more than 1,300 undergraduate students and asked them to complete questionnaires based on psychological state.

They found that one in ten of them used the Tinder app.

Both male and female Tinder users reported less satisfaction with their bodies and looks, compared to non-users, with males reporting lower levels of self-esteem.

The researchers, who presented their findings at a conference in Denver, say that rather than the app necessarily lowering self-worth, it may be that people with lower self-esteem are more drawn to these types of apps.

Professor Jessica Strübel of the University of North Texas said: ‘Tinder users reported having lower levels of satisfaction with their faces and bodies and having lower levels of self-worth than the men and women who did not use Tinder.’

The study involved 1,044 women and 273 men undergraduates who completed questionnaires about their Tinder use, body image, perceived objectification and psychological well-being.

One in ten used Tinder and both male and female users reported less satisfaction with their bodies and looks, compared to non-users.

However, only male Tinder users reported lower levels of self-esteem.

Prof Strübel added: ‘We found that being actively involved with Tinder, regardless of the user’s gender, was associated with body dissatisfaction, body shame, body monitoring, internalisation of societal expectations of beauty, comparing oneself physically to others, and reliance on media for information on appearance and attractiveness.’

She argued the way people select possible dates means persistent users may begin to feel depersonalised and disposable in their social interactions and develop heightened awareness and criticism of their looks and bodies.

The dating app involves rating profiles by swiping right if they fancy the person and left to reject.

If two users deem each other acceptable, then they are ‘matched’ and can begin communicating with one another.

In a study of 1,300 undergraduate students, they found that both male and female Tinder users (illustrated, stock image) reported less satisfaction with their bodies and looks, compared to non-users 

In a study of 1,300 undergraduate students, they found that both male and female Tinder users (illustrated, stock image) reported less satisfaction with their bodies and looks, compared to non-users