Just a swipe away: Navigating the motivations behind downloading and using mobile dating applications during a global pandemic

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to explore the underlying motivations behind downloading or reopening mobile dating applications (MDAs) during a global pandemic. Additional objectives of this study were to explore the lived experiences of heterosexual, cisgender women mobile dating application users, investigate how mobile dating has changed since March of 2020, and analyze research from dating before COVID-19 compared to dating during COVID-19. At the time of the study, there was little research that addressed the motivations of using MDAs during a pandemic, as well as the experiences of women who were navigating dating in a socially distant world. For these reasons, this study aimed to (1) analyze the motivations behind downloading MDAs during the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) explore the lived experiences of women who used MDAs during the COVID-19 pandemic, (3) investigate how mobile dating has changed since March 2020, and (4) compare pre-COVID-19 and current COVID-19 dating experiences. This study employed a qualitative method of phenomenology and investigated the lived experiences of eight women, 20 to 29 years old, who used mobile dating applications during COVID-19. The results of the coding process produced nine areas of focus, 22 major themes, and three minor themes. Furthermore, a discussion of implications for clinicians and mental health professionals working with individuals who have used MDAs were explored. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)