On the differences between Tinder™ versus online dating agencies: Questioning a myth. An exploratory study

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographic data by group

Type of dating	Male	Female	Mean age (SD)
Tinder™ (N = 30)	14	16	27.40 (9.07)^*
Online dating agency (N = 26)	7	19	44.08 (10.98)
Non-users (N = 19)	8	11	43.00 (16.13)

Note: Post-hoc comparisons using the Tukey HSD test indicated that the mean score for the Tinder™ group differed significantly from both the other groups.

^* p < 0.0001.

Table 2. Motivations to use online dating by group

Mean (SD)			p
Motivation	Tinder™ (N = 30)	Dating agency (N = 26)
To find casual sex partners	2.13 (1.22)	2.81 (1.06)	0.10
To find a romantic relationship	2.17 (1.02)	1.92 (1.06)	0.68
Just for fun (I never met up with anyone)	2.63 (1.00)	2.58 (0.86)	0.92
To make new friends	2.90 (1.06)	2.35 (0.89)	0.13
To keep in contact with existing friends	3.67 (0.61)	2.96 (1.15)	0.02

Note: Lower mean scores indicate stronger contribution of a given reason to use the service.

Adjusted α level = 0.05/11 = 0.0045).

Table 3. Motivations to use online dating by gender

Mean (SD)			p
Motivation	Male (N = 21)	Female (N = 35)
To find casual sex partners	1.71 (0.90)	2.89 (1.19)	0.001^*
To find a romantic relationship	2.14 (1.11)	2.00 (1.00)	0.60
Just for fun (I never met up with anyone)	2.76 (0.70)	2.51 (1.04)	0.33
To make new friends	2.91 (0.77)	2.49 (1.12)	0.23
To keep in contact with existing friends	3.57 (0.75)	3.20 (1.05)	0.31

^* Adjusted α level = 0.05/11 = 0.0045.

Note: Lower mean scores indicate stronger contribution of a given reason to use the service.

Table 4. Mean (SD) for group and gender for sociability, sexual permissiveness and self-esteem

		Sociability	Sexual permissiveness	Self-esteem
Tinder	Male	15.36 (2.79)	21.21 (6.19)	23.00 (4.51)
	Female	14.88 (2.83)	30.00 (6.18)	25.19 (3.73)
	Total	15.10 (2.77)	25.90 (7.54)	24.17 (4.19)
Dating Agency	Male	13.71 (1.98)	22.00 (5.00)	23.14 (5.34)
	Female	16.63 (2.93)	32.95 (7.11)	23.89 (3.98)
	Total	15.85 (2.98)	30.00 (8.18)	23.69 (4.29)
None	Male	14.38 (3.07)	28.00 (11.82)	23.88 (5.46)
	Female	15.45 (2.16)	39.36 (7.28)	24.36 (3.56)
	Total	15.00 (2.56)	34.58 (10.82)	24.16 (4.32)

Note: Sociability: higher means = higher sociability score; Sexual Permissiveness: higher means = lower sexual permissiveness score; Self-esteem: higher means = higher self-esteem score.