Study shows: Depressive has similar chances of success to others in online dating

Study shows: Depressive has similar chances of success to others in online dating

partner finding for people with depression is only subjectively difficult

The psychological dating agency gang.d (https://www.gleichklang.de/)e carried out a study that examined the experience and chances of success of people with depression in the online partner search. It turned out that depressive people feel higher internal barriers compared to non-depressive participants, but have no less chances of successful contact.

depressive users report fears and stress, but not of less success

According to the survey, depressive users feel more frequently fears in terms of partner search and bond. They stated that they were less active in online communication and often found the partner search to be stressful. Nevertheless, they managed to make promising contacts as often as non-depressive users. Guido F. Gebauer (https://www.gfgebauer.de/), psychologist and dating coach at the same sound, explains: "Although depressive singles encounter more inner obstacles during dating, you still have similar chances to establish contact."

Online dating as a means of coping with depression? Different effects

Study structure: Clear delimitation between depressed and non-depressive participants

The sample included 502 singles without depression and 136 with depression that were between 20 and 85 years old. The diagnosis of depression was made both by specifying the existence of a diagnosis of "depression" made by a psychiatrist or psychologist and the internationally validated "health questionnaire for patients", the threshold of which was based on 10. This thorough methodology ensured that only participants with either clearly diagnosed depression or no depression were assigned to the corresponding groups.

Results in detail: Effects of depression on the online partner search

In the study, the experiences and behaviors of the participants were recorded by 34 questions about seven central components of the online partner search. The results show significant differences between depressive and non-depressive users in four of these components.

1. Fear of partner search

depressive users showed a significantly higher mean in this component. Many of the depressed participants surveyed stated that they were afraid of rejection or disappointment and therefore felt unsafe when it came to making new contacts.

2. Fear of binding

Here too, depressive users showed higher values. More often than non-depressed, they stated that they had difficulties with binding and intimacy, which was reflected in statements like "I can't love" or "I am afraid of closeness".

3. Effort and stress

depressive participants found the partner search significantly more often than exhausting and stressful. This component reflected difficulties that many people have, but particularly depressive, have online dating.

4. Online activity

Non-depressive users were more active in this component. They more often stated to write first messages, make calls or to have video calls. In contrast, the activity in online dating was less.

No significant differences in other components

In the components reliability, avoidance of relationships and hunger of experience, there were no significant differences between the depressed and non-depressive users:

-reliability: Depressive and non-depressive users did not differ significantly in how reliably they responded to messages or really looked at new suggestions.

- avoidance of encounter: There were also no significant differences in relation to the avoidance of encounters, for example by postponing appointments, although depressive users tended to show higher values.

- Hunger: The data showed that both groups achieved similar values ​​in this component, without significant differences. The hunger of experience, i.e. the motivation, for example, searched for sex contacts, played a lower role in depressive users, but without statistically deviating significantly.

Influence of online dating on the well-being of depressive users

58.8 % of depressive participants stated that they used online dating to relieve depressive complaints. However, the actual effect on well -being was mixed:

-improvement in mood: 35.3 % of depressive participants reported that online dating improved their depressive mood.

-Maintaining mood: 29.4 %, on the other hand, stated that online dating deteriorated its depressive symptoms.

bauer therefore recommends that depressive people closely observe the effects of online dating on their well-being and also take advantage of professional support with regard to the treatment of their depression.

Successful prospects: Depressive and non-depressive users in comparison

Since all participants are still looking for a partner, it was not possible to determine a dedicated rate of mediation. The questioned question of a beginning relationship or a promising contact still allowed Gebauer to estimate whether the participants were on the road to success.

Despite the challenges described, depressive and non-depressive users differed in their such certain chances of success in the online partner search:

-Successful contacts: 34.8 % of non-depressive and 30.4 % of the depressive participants stated that a relationship has already developed or at least currently there was a promising contact. This difference did not achieve statistical significance, which indicates that depressive people have similar opportunities despite their difficulties.

conclusion and recommendations for depressive singles

The results suggest that depressive people experience higher internal barriers when looking for a partner, but have the same chances of success as non-depressive singles. Gebauer explains: "The barriers who experience depressive singles when looking for a partner do not reduce their chances of success considerably."

Gebauer also explains that unqualcular.de had already had good experiences with his approach to successfully convey members with and without mental illnesses. Inquiries in particular offer the possibility of taking mental illnesses into account in the profile in order to find potential partners who accept and respect these aspects. The placement rates actually determined that can be called up in the same-sound blog differ only insignificantly between people with and without mental illnesses.

"This result is in line with the findings of the current survey," said Gebauer. He recommends depressive singles to be aware of their own limits and, if necessary, to find professional support: "It is important that those affected pay attention to whether they are looking for a partner search and take the right consequences from continuing the online partner or temporarily exposed to them," says Gebauer.

Gebauer has published a three-part video series for finding a partner on depression on his YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@gleichklangteam) that contains further tips and information.

Further information on the investigation is happy to provide Gebauer on request and is also available for interviews at any time.

uniflang.de is a psychologically oriented introductory platform that has been offering its services on the Internet since 2006. Condition is aimed at people with social-ecological ways of thinking. Ingrown also geared to support people with special or rare characteristics in their search for partner and find friendship. There are only paid participations to ensure a high file quality. Guido F. Gebauer is a psychologist, dating coach and press spokesman for the same sound and author of the dating guide "A Perfect Match? Online partner search from a psychological point of view".

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