Dating Apps, Moral Disengagement, and Break Up Distress Among Indian Emerging Adults: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Background: The rapid proliferation of dating applications has transformed romantic relationship initiation among Indian young adults, yet the psychological implications of this shift remain understudied.

Objective: This study compared dating app users and non-users seeking romantic relationships on three psychological constructs: moral disengagement, self-concept clarity, and break-up distress.

Method: Using a quantitative, non-experimental comparative design, 250 Indian young adults aged 18–26 years completed standardized measures of moral disengagement , self-concept clarity , and break-up distress . Independent samples t-tests were conducted using Jamovi.

Results: Dating app users reported significantly higher moral disengagement than non-users, t(249) = –2.98, p = .003, d = 0.38. No significant differences were found in self-concept clarity (p = .513, d = 0.08) or break-up distress (p = .115, d = 0.20).

Conclusion: Digital dating environments may heighten cognitive moral disengagement without fundamentally destabilizing identity or amplifying emotional distress after relationship dissolution. These findings have implications for clinical practice, digital literacy education, and platform design within the Indian sociocultural context.