Tinder users more prone to inferiority complex

Users of this dating app may fall prey to mental illness, low self-esteem

Swiping through Tinder may be taking a toll on your mental health and self-esteem, according to a study which found that people who use the popular dating app have more body dissatisfaction. The reason may have to do with the fact that a person’s looks play a major role in Tinder, researchers said.

People accept or reject potential matches based primarily on photos, and sometimes, a short description. This type of judgement can take a toll, the study found. Both male and female Tinder users in the study experienced low self-esteem, body shame and negative moods, said Jessica Strubel, an assistant professor at the University of Rhode Island in the US.

Researchers studied college-age Tinder users – more than 700 females and 120 male students. They found that both men and women had similar negative responses. In addition to providing information about their Tinder use, participants answered questions about their mood, level of body satisfaction, selfesteem, perceived societal pressures to look a certain way and body shame.

Compared with those who did not use the app, Tinder users were more likely to report negative feelings, ‘Live Science’ reported. For example, relative to nonusers, Tinder users were more likely to compare themselves to others, feel pressures to look a certain way and experience negative moods.