This study investigated the relations between adult attachment styles, sexual attitudes, and relationship histories and how these factors affect how individuals use Tinder. Based on existing literature, individuals... [ view full abstract ]
This study investigated the relations between adult attachment styles, sexual attitudes, and relationship histories and how these factors affect how individuals use Tinder. Based on existing literature, individuals who scored higher on attachment anxiety express more concern with rejection and abandonment. We predicted higher attachment anxiety would result in using Tinder in an instrumental way, to develop a more serious romantic relationship, instead of using Tinder to find hookups. Individuals who scored higher on attachment avoidance tend to have a relatively low desire for romantic relationships. Thus, we expect that more avoidant individuals would either not use Tinder or they would use Tinder to find someone to "hookup" with rather than to date.
Participants (n = 311) ages 18-35 (191 males) completed an online questionnaire that included measures of adult attachment, sexual attitudes, romantic relationship history, and a variety of questions pertaining to Tinder and offline related dating behaviors (e.g., frequency of sexual encounters, motivation for using Tinder, satisfaction with Tinder related sexual encounter).
We found partial support for our predictions about differences by attachment history. Participants with higher attachment anxiety were less likely to use Tinder to find a hookup (r - -.199, ρ = .029) and were less likely to feel good after their most recent Tinder related hookup (r = -.312, ρ = .002) and were more likely to feel used after their most recent Tinder related hookup (r = .235, ρ = .022). More avoidant participants were less satisfied with their most recent Tinder related sexual encounter (r = -.29, ρ = .044) and generally reported less good feelings after their most recent Tinder related sexual encounter (r = -.312, ρ = .002) than more secure participants. Taken together, attachment history is related to Tinder use and outcomes. Implications about how Tinder use differs based on attachment history will be discussed.
