Online Dating's Influence on Partner Selection in Canada, Finds UBC Study

Online Dating in the Age of Connectivity: How it Reshapes Partner Selection

A new study by sociology experts at The University of British Columbia UBC sheds light on how Canadians' partner choices are being influenced by online dating platforms, apps and chat rooms. This research was published recently in the Journal of Marriage and Family.

The researchers, led by Yue Qian - an associate professor of sociology at UBC – analyzed data from a 2018 national survey to understand how online vs. offline interactions affect romantic relationships among heterosexual couples in Canada based on factors like education level, race, migration history and age.

Their findings reveal that the widespread use of digital dating platforms promotes relationships between individuals with varying levels of education and those at different stages of their immigration journey e.g., Canadian-born versus immigrants. Moreover, online dating decreases the likelihood of forming relationships across age groups when compared to offline methods like meeting through work, school or social gatherings.

Online dating exposes us to a diverse pool of potential partners, commented Yue Qian, the study's lead author. This research underscores how our existing social circles may limit whom we choose as romantic partners.

Some key findings from this study include:

• Couples who met online are more likely than those meeting offline to unite individuals of different education backgrounds specifically, a higher proportion of educated men pred with less-educated women.

• Although online platforms do not notably promote interracial partnerships compared to general offline interactions, couples introduced by family or fris t to be of the same racial background. This indicates that social networks play a critical role in facilitating intimate relationships between individuals sharing similar racial identities.

Qian also observed curiosity among people about relationship formation and expressed interest from unpartnered individuals seeking guidance on finding suitable companionship.

The study represents the first comprehensive investigation into online dating patterns within Canada, with Qian noting that results are largely consistent with findings from other Western countries. Future research eavors could explore how various digital dating options like apps versus websites influence relationship dynamics or examine regional differences in dating behaviors across Canada. Further studies might also delve into online dating trs among sexual and ger minorities.

The UBC team was joined by Yang Hu, an expert at Lancaster University, with financial support from the Social Sciences and ities Research Council of Canada SSHRC.

For further inquiries, please contact:

Erik Rolfsen

UBC Media Relations

Phone: 604-822-2644

Mobile: 604-209-3048

Eml: [email protected]

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