Swipe, style, surgery: exploring dating app use, self-presentation style, and acceptance of cosmetic surgery

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2025

Authors

Burkhardt, N.
Mingoia, J.
Conboy, L.

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Journal article

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Computers in Human Behavior, 2025; 165(108568):1-7

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Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the relationships of dating app use, self-presentation styles, and acceptance of cosmetic surgery in adult women. Mobile dating applications have increased in popularity over recent years, so much so that it is predicted the majority of relationships will begin online in the next few years. Although emerging research has drawn connections between social media use, real and deceptive presentation styles, and acceptance of cosmetic surgery, these connections have not yet been explored among dating app users. We conducted a cross-sectional correlational study to explore dating app use, self-presentation styles, and acceptance of cosmetic surgery in a sample of adult women (N = 308, M age = 25.29, SD = 8.70). We found that women who used dating apps reported having significantly more positive attitudes towards cosmetic surgery than women who were not dating app users, with the extent of deceptive self-presentation significantly predicting this. This may suggest that dating apps should encourage online environments and features where individuals can present themselves with a real presentation style, such that they can find romantic or sexual partners authentically, without pressures to adhere to perfected body image perceptions.

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Copyright 2025 The Authors (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Access Condition Notes: This is an open access article under the CC BY license

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