Mixing dating app types linked to lower anxiety in Australian men, survey finds

Gay and bisexual men who use more than one type of mobile dating app report lower levels of anxiety than those who stick to a single platform, according to a survey-based study from Flinders University published in the journal Psychology & Sexuality. The research, led by PhD candidate Zac Bowman of the university’s College of Human Sciences and Culture, is described as one of the first attempts to compare users of different dating app types and sexual orientations against mental health and wellbeing outcomes.

The study surveyed 578 Australian men aged between 18 and 69, with an average age of 34 years. After controlling for age differences within the group, the researchers found that sexual orientation and engagement with mainstream or gay-only dating apps had varying relationships with mental health. Two groups stood out with significantly increased anxiety compared with all other app-type combinations: sexual minority men who used one app type exclusively, and heterosexual men who used both gay and mainstream apps. The authors suggest the lower anxiety among multi-platform users may reflect a greater likelihood of achieving desired outcomes when drawing on a broader range of apps.

Bowman says there is a clear divide between the platforms. Apps such as Grindr and Scruff are widely perceived as spaces for casual sex where appearance dominates, while Tinder and Hinge are more often associated with dating and relationships. He notes that there are several fundamental differences between gay and mainstream dating apps that may significantly affect user experience, including the interface, image-sharing features, and the potential for non-consensual messaging. “Our latest findings show that dating apps designed specifically for men to meet other men operate differently to swipe-based mainstream apps, exposing users to unsolicited and occasionally unpleasant messages,” Bowman says.

The findings carry weight because gay, bisexual and other sexual minority men are among the most active users of dating apps, and potentially among the most vulnerable. Dating apps are used by hundreds of millions of people worldwide, including around 15 million users on Grindr alone. Against that scale, the researchers argue that confirming a connection between dating app use, sexual orientation and men’s mental health and wellbeing could prompt app developers to reduce the emphasis on physical appearance and sexual objectification and to introduce safeguards for users.

The researchers also point to a role for users themselves in shifting the culture of these platforms. The paper, titled ‘Designed to be deleted: differential impacts of dating apps on men’s body image, mental health, and wellbeing’, was authored by Zac Bowman, Murray Drummond, Ivanka Prichard and Jasmine M Petersen, and was published on 16 September 2026. Bowman has previously assessed the effects of online dating platforms on users’ body image and disordered eating, and the new study extends that line of work by distinguishing between app types rather than treating dating app use as a single behaviour.

Subject of Research: Associations between dating app type, sexual orientation and anxiety among Australian men

Article Title: Looking for relief from dating app anxiety? Try a variety of platforms

Article References: Looking for relief from dating app anxiety? Try a variety of platforms. Original publication (Bibliographic details unavailable.)

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: Not provided

Keywords: dating apps, mental health, anxiety, gay and bisexual men, Grindr, Tinder, Flinders University, survey study, sexual minority health, Psychology & Sexuality, body image, online dating