Jesse King
University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA  Norman, OK, USA  (Correspondence: jesseking@ucsb.edu)
Audrey Halversenb
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Lauren Silva
Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
Scott H. Church
Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
Pamela Brubaker
Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA

Citation:  King, J., Halversen, A., Silva, L., Church, S.H. & Brubaker, P. (2024). Rejecting others on dating apps: The relationship between self-disclosure and self-esteem on Bumble. JoCTEC, 6(2), pp. 73-93 DOI: 10.51548/joctec.6.2.2024.04

Abstract:  Due to the lack of research on those who reject potential romantic partners in the early stages of dating, this study examines the computer-mediated experiences of females on the dating app Bumble. A survey of female Bumble users investigates how self-disclosure, stress, and Machiavellianism leading up to rejecting a potential partner predicts post-rejecting self-esteem. Using multiple regression, this study shows that when women reject partners who self-disclose a lot to them on Bumble, these women experience high self-esteem thereafter. When women self-disclose more information about themselves on the dating app, are more stressed about rejecting a man on Bumble, and possess Machiavellian tendencies, they experience a more negative self-perception after rejecting men. Those high in Machiavellian traits on average report higher levels of all variables, indicating that women high in Machiavellian traits may reject others with ulterior motives. 

Keywords: Online Dating, Self-Disclosure, Machiavellianism, Stress, Self- Esteem