Religiosity and Online Dating Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Perceptions and Concerns

Yorkshire

This study determines the religious differences associated with the perceptions, intentions, and usage of online dating amongst emerging adults. Symbolic interaction theory informs how the symbols associated with online dating impact perceptions, intentions, and usage among a sample of 447 emerging adults, between 18-30 years of age. More religious individuals were found to typically use online dating less, have more negative perceptions, and hold more concerns about online dating, showing that religious beliefs and norms may still associate online dating as a sexual culture rather than a method for finding dating or long-term partners. The association of religiosity and resultant relationships was found to be mediated by frequency and concerns about online dating, but not perceptions. As technology continues to grow and online dating expands to become more acceptable, more online dating sites related to specific intentions will likely arise. Implications for practitioners and future research are provided.