Date of Publication

7-18-2024

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Health Social Science

College

College of Liberal Arts

Department/Unit

Behavioral Sciences

Thesis Advisor

Alicia B. Manlagnit

Defense Panel Chair

Zaldy C. Collado

Defense Panel Member

Myla M. Arcinas
Wilfred Luis L. Clamor

Abstract/Summary

Originally intended as a tool to connect people and find romance, the role of mobile dating apps as a mediator of the dating process has transformed into a personal asylum to satisfy one's physical, mental, emotional, and social needs. Addiction to mobile dating apps was found to have detrimental effects on one’s health and well-being. This study focused on mobile dating app addiction among Filipino mobile dating app users and examined its effect on their mental health and ghosting intentions. It also attempted to establish the link between the quality of their perceived body image and self-esteem and their level of mobile dating app addiction. Through convenience sampling, four hundred fifty-one (451) Filipino mobile dating app users were recruited from Social Media platforms and popular mobile dating applications. The main phenomenon, mobile dating app addiction, the antecedent, and outcome variables were measured using an online survey questionnaire. Three hundred fifteen (315) responses came from the at-risk subgroup, while one hundred thirty-one (131) responses came from the not-at-risk subgroup. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests compared the results between the at-risk and not-at-risk subgroups, while Spearman’s Rho Correlation tests confirmed the strength and direction between the study variables. Findings revealed that at-risk respondents in the study were mostly low-income, male, LGBTQA+, Generation Z Filipino MDA users who had neutral perceived body image, normal self-esteem levels, and moderate MDA addiction. They were also at risk of extremely severe depression, extremely severe anxiety, and moderate levels of stress. They also reported moderate levels of ghosting intentions. Perceived body image and self-esteem were not found to be correlated to mobile dating app addiction in this study. Meanwhile, mobile dating app addiction had a weak positive correlation with depression and stress among Filipino MDA users. It was also correlated with ghosting intentions. The study concluded that Filipino mobile dating app users with higher MDA addiction were at higher risk of depression and stress. They also have greater intentions to ghost others online.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Keywords

Mobile apps; Online dating--Philippines; Internet addiction; Mental health

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Embargo Period

7-29-2026

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Available for download on Wednesday, July 29, 2026

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