Swipe Right Or Left; The Connection Between Online Dating & Your Mental Health

Too Many Choices

How do you choose between what seems like good, suitable matches? Furthering the idea of how having too many choices can harm rather than benefit you, some experts argue the overwhelming amount of choice we have today leads to a ‘throwaway society,’ whereas potential mates become disposable after they have met their intended purpose or don’t live up to an individual’s standards. Therefore, does online dating create mental stress as well as hostility between the sexes and potential partners? Considering how easy it is to dislike, ignore, or even delete an individual on a whim, many online daters have experienced being ‘ghosted,’ or ‘catfished,’ which can damage a person’s self confidence immensely as the entire experience is dehumanizing to be rejected or lied to in such a harsh manner.

The amount of choice now available at our fingertips can significantly hinder the development of monogamous romantic relationships between people, which can create intense anxiety for many users, while reducing the amount of mutual trust and respect you not only have for yourself but in others. Daters might start asking themselves, "Are they still meeting other people?" "Will I be ghosted after this date?" "Is there someone better waiting for me on the next swipe?" which can make many users feel stressed out about their choices and whether the person they are interested could be the right match.

Next, find out how online dating can bring out some of the worst personality traits in you.

It Can Bring Out Your Worst Personality Traits

In one study conducted by the US Association of Psychological Science discovered reviewing or dating multiple candidates results in individuals becoming more judgemental and harsh on these sites. They were more inclined to dismiss someone who didn’t meet all of their expectations versus if they were meeting that individual face-to-face. It’s true these dating apps essentially mean you will have an endless supply of dates lining up around the block for you, but is this a good thing? This vast amount of potential romantic options has definitely changed the way we date and view individuals, especially if they don’t have everything on our ‘dream guy or girl’ checklist.

One of the most significant issues with this is it can not only cause you to become bitter and hostile towards potentially great matches, but it can also make you narcissistic and self-entitled to get what you want (and it isn’t just about you). Not to mention it can also cause you to lose a truly wonderful individual who could’ve been the right person for you. Yes, it’s fantastic to have standards and hold individuals to these expectations, however, don’t get caught up in what looks good on paper. Instead, judge someone based on their personality and who they are, versus how they physically look or who they appear to be.

Next, discover how expectations can damage your self-worth and make you question the dating scene.