Despite the ubiquity of dating apps, there is little longitudinal research examining the mental health and well-being of dating app users. To fill this void, this study takes a social compensation approach to exploring dating app users’ burnout experiences (i.e., emotional exhaustion, inefficacy, and depersonalization) over time. Four hundred ninety-three active single dating app users were surveyed over four waves across 12 weeks, with a final sample of 190. Multilevel growth curve models showed that dating app users experienced increased emotional exhaustion and inefficacy over time. Furthermore, depression, anxiety, and loneliness predicted more emotional exhaustion and inefficacy, while problematic dating app use predicted more emotional exhaustion and less inefficacy. The results suggest that dating apps may exacerbate existing difficulties with relationship initiation among vulnerable users by increasing their risk of burnout. Dating app burnout is a potential intervention target to improve users’ dating success.

中文翻译：

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精疲力尽但仍然单身：随着时间的推移，约会应用程序容易倦怠


尽管约会应用程序无处不在，但很少有纵向研究来检查约会应用程序用户的心理健康和福祉。为了填补这一空白，本研究采用社会补偿方法来探索约会应用程序用户随着时间的推移而出现的倦怠体验（即情绪耗竭、无效感和人格解体）。在 12 周内，对 493 名活跃的单身约会应用用户进行了四波调查，最终样本为 190 人。多级增长曲线模型显示，随着时间的推移，约会应用用户的情绪耗竭和效率低下的情况会增加。此外，抑郁、焦虑和孤独预示着更多的情绪耗竭和无效，而有问题的约会应用程序的使用预示着更多的情绪耗竭和更少的无效。结果表明，约会应用程序可能会通过增加弱势用户倦怠的风险来加剧他们建立关系的现有困难。约会应用程序倦怠是提高用户约会成功率的潜在干预目标。