MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Motoring
  • Video
MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Motoring
  • Video
Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

Depression, Drug Addiction And Suicide Abnormally High In Defence Veterans

Depression, Drug Addiction And Suicide Abnormally High In Defence Veterans

TV Host Andrew O'Keefe Opens Up About Battling His Demons

TV Host Andrew O'Keefe Opens Up About Battling His Demons

How To Help Someone You Love Who Battles Depression

How To Help Someone You Love Who Battles Depression

Guys Explain How They Found Their Therapists

Guys Explain How They Found Their Therapists

{headline}

{headline}

Male Mental Health: How To Tackle The Stigma Around Anxiety And Depression In Men

Male Mental Health: How To Tackle The Stigma Around Anxiety And Depression In Men

Guys Are Sharing How They've Helped Friends Deal With Depression

Guys Are Sharing How They've Helped Friends Deal With Depression

Here's When You Should Be Swiping To Get More Matches, According To Tinder

Here's When You Should Be Swiping To Get More Matches, According To Tinder

{headline}

{headline}

How To Spot Depression In A Mate

How To Spot Depression In A Mate

What To Say To Your Mate When He Has Depression

What To Say To Your Mate When He Has Depression

Postnatal Depression Affects Nearly As Many New Fathers As Mothers

Postnatal Depression Affects Nearly As Many New Fathers As Mothers

Study Finds Heart Disease And Depression Can Be Prevented By The Same Activity

Study Finds Heart Disease And Depression Can Be Prevented By The Same Activity

Lift Some Weights To Lift Your Mood, Say Scientists

Lift Some Weights To Lift Your Mood, Say Scientists

Depressed? Stressed? You Need To Eat A Raw Carrot Right Now

Depressed? Stressed? You Need To Eat A Raw Carrot Right Now

Significant Financial Loss Could Be Fatal, Say Researchers

Significant Financial Loss Could Be Fatal, Say Researchers

  1. Home
  2. Mental Health

Could Your Dating Apps Be Making You Depressed?

Research claims Tinder users are less satisfied and feel more shame about their bodies - by Daniel Davies
  • 31 May 2018
Could Your Dating Apps Be Making You Depressed?
Getty Images

It’s natural that when you start exploring dating apps you want people to see you looking your best. Anyone who’s attempted to put their best photo forward on dating apps will know that receiving no response, can make you feel more insecure about your appearance and body. And in some extreme cases, it is now believed, can even lead to feelings of depression.

In 2016, researchers at the University of North Texas compared 100 users of Tinder with more than 1000 non-users to examine the dating app's effect on psychosocial well-being. Men were asked how they felt about the size of their arms, the leanness of their stomach and their overall satisfaction with their build.

The researchers found that Tinder users were less satisfied and felt more shame about their bodies, and were more likely to compare their appearance to others, when compared with non-users.

How dating apps can be painful

It’s not hard to understand why men who use apps like Tinder are so keen to give women what they want. Rejection sucks, getting ghosted sucks – studies have shown that the anterior insula region of the brain becomes activated when we experience rejection, similar to when we experience physical pain.

Bouncing back from rejection isn’t easy, and according to psychologist Dr Guy Winch, when we've just experienced rejection is when we’re at our most self-critical.

“Just when our self-esteem is hurting most, we go and damage it even further. Doing so is emotionally unhealthy and psychologically self-destructive yet every single one of us has done it at one time or another,” said Winch in a 2015 TED talk. 

We know that you're not going to stop using dating apps because of this, but it's important to remember that you should never compare yourself to others. And don't worry about rejection, there are plenty more fish in the sea.

This article originally appeared on Men's Health UK.

  • News
  • Health
  • Life
  • Relationship Advice
  • Mental Health

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Recommended to you

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

Depression, Drug Addiction And Suicide Abnormally High In Defence Veterans

Depression, Drug Addiction And Suicide Abnormally High In Defence Veterans

TV Host Andrew O'Keefe Opens Up About Battling His Demons

TV Host Andrew O'Keefe Opens Up About Battling His Demons

How To Help Someone You Love Who Battles Depression

How To Help Someone You Love Who Battles Depression

Guys Explain How They Found Their Therapists

Guys Explain How They Found Their Therapists

{headline}

{headline}

Male Mental Health: How To Tackle The Stigma Around Anxiety And Depression In Men

Male Mental Health: How To Tackle The Stigma Around Anxiety And Depression In Men

Guys Are Sharing How They've Helped Friends Deal With Depression

Guys Are Sharing How They've Helped Friends Deal With Depression

Here's When You Should Be Swiping To Get More Matches, According To Tinder

Here's When You Should Be Swiping To Get More Matches, According To Tinder

{headline}

{headline}

How To Spot Depression In A Mate

How To Spot Depression In A Mate

What To Say To Your Mate When He Has Depression

What To Say To Your Mate When He Has Depression

Postnatal Depression Affects Nearly As Many New Fathers As Mothers

Postnatal Depression Affects Nearly As Many New Fathers As Mothers

Study Finds Heart Disease And Depression Can Be Prevented By The Same Activity

Study Finds Heart Disease And Depression Can Be Prevented By The Same Activity

Lift Some Weights To Lift Your Mood, Say Scientists

Lift Some Weights To Lift Your Mood, Say Scientists

Depressed? Stressed? You Need To Eat A Raw Carrot Right Now

Depressed? Stressed? You Need To Eat A Raw Carrot Right Now

Significant Financial Loss Could Be Fatal, Say Researchers

Significant Financial Loss Could Be Fatal, Say Researchers

MensHealth
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Chris Hemsworth Hugo Boss
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Chris Hemsworth Hugo Boss
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

  • Women's Health

Our Network

  • Paragon Media Pty Ltd
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Men's Health

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe Now-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe Now