Online dating is one of the most common ways Americans meet new partners. That’s been true for a while now; in fact, it’s been true for long enough that we now have some interesting data on the long-term health of relationships that started online.
A recent study published in Computers in Human Behavior looked into just this question, with mixed results. While online dating has numerous benefits during the dating phase, it’s also associated with less long-term stability in the relationship.
The differences between online and offline relationships
Researchers looked at a sample of 923 married American adults. About half of the adults in the sample, the “online origin” participants, had met their spouses through online dating sites or apps. The other half, the “offline origin” group, met their spouses through traditional offline venues such as meeting at work, through friends, or in college.
Researchers asked the participants about their satisfaction and stability in their marriages. While both groups reported relatively high levels of satisfaction and stability, the online origin participants were significantly less satisfied and stable in their marriages compared to those who met offline.
The researchers found that the stigma surrounding online dating was itself one reason the online origin participants had more challenges in their marriages. Friends and family were somewhat less likely to be supportive of relationships that started online compared to relationships that started offline. The researchers also speculated that the larger range of options in online dating may affect the long-term stability of marriages that started online.
Changes in the world of dating affect marriage and divorce
In addition to these effects on marital stability, the researchers found other significant differences between relationships that started online and offline. As you might expect, a higher percentage of online couples started out with longer physical distances between them. The online origin participants also tended to be younger and more likely to be in same-sex or interracial marriages.
It’s important to remember that online dating is still relatively new and it has changed a great deal over the last 20 years. Moreover, the study only looked at people who met through online dating websites and apps. More research is needed to investigate marriages that started online, but not through online dating as such, such as mutual interests or mutual online friends. More research is also needed to follow couples through the stages of their relationships instead of asking them to recall their early experiences after the fact.
We help West Virginians navigate major transitions in life
As experienced divorce lawyers, we’ve seen over and over again the effects of the Internet and social media on marriages and the challenges faced by married people. While we certainly don’t expect a massive wave of divorces anytime soon, we do stay abreast of changes in relationship dynamics and how those dynamics might affect our clients’ cases.
No matter how much dating and marriage change, divorce will always be difficult, but sometimes, it’s an opportunity for a fresh start in life. If you are considering separation or divorce, talk to one of the experienced family law attorneys at Klie Law Offices today. We serve clients throughout West Virginia.
