Over the last few decades, more and more couples have met online. By now, online dating has been around for long enough that we have real data about how marriages that started online are playing out.
The results are mixed. While online dating has led to more marriages across regional and demographic lines, marriages that began with online dating tend to have lower levels of satisfaction and stability compared to those that started with offline dating.
Breaking down the study results
The new study, published in Computers in Human Behavior, used data from 923 married U.S. adults, about half of whom met through online dating sites or apps, while the others met in conventional offline venues: friends, work, college, and so on.
The study results showed that the couples who met online were generally younger and had more dating experience prior to marriage compared to the offline couples. Those who met online were also more likely to be same-sex or interracial couples, and they (perhaps unsurprisingly) faced more geographic distance at the start of their relationships.
However, the online-origin participants reported lower levels of satisfaction and stability in their marriages compared to the offline-origin participants. The researchers emphasized that the online-origin participants were still, on the whole, quite happy in their marriages, but there was definitely a difference.
Possible explanations for the gap in marital satisfaction and stability
The researchers identified one partial explanation for the difference between online-origin and offline-origin marriages: the stigma surrounding online dating itself. Dating online was associated with lower network approval – that is, less support for the relationship from friends and family – which caused additional challenges for the online-origin couples.
The study authors also suggested that online dating may cause people to feel like they have more options, which may be a benefit during the dating phase but can also threaten the long-term stability of a committed relationship. Moreover, because the online couples often started off some geographic distance apart, there was increased disclosure between the partners, which the researchers found increased satisfaction but also correlated with lower long-term stability.
In short, we aren’t expecting a rash of divorces coming from ill-advised online relationships anytime soon. On the whole, people who meet online still tend to be happy in their relationships. However, some of the study results may be warning signs of lower marital stability and an increased risk of marital difficulties, separation, and divorce.
If you are considering divorce or separation, reach out to us.
Whether you met online or offline, every marriage has challenges, and sometimes, a relationship no longer serves the needs of the people in it. Divorce is always challenging, but it can also be a path to a brighter future. For decades, the experienced divorce attorneys at Courtney Clark Law P.C. have been helping couples in Belleville and throughout southwest Illinois navigate difficult transitions. Give us a call or contact us online for a free consultation.