The effect of implicit (vs explicit) rejection on the behavioral intentions of online daters

Multiple Facets of Rejections in Online Dating: Exploring Types, Reasons, and Impact

Romantic rejections are a hurtful yet common occurrence in online dating. While research in this area is growing, there is a need for a comprehensive and comparative overview to understand these rejection experiences better. This article presents the results of two cross-sectional survey studies that aimed to create a more comprehensive overview of multiple facets of rejections in online dating, particularly the types of rejections used, the (provided) reasons for rejecting, and the painfulness of being rejected. Results of Study 1 (n = 177) show that ghosting was the most often experienced rejection type, even when a considerable number of messages was exchanged before the rejection. Unmatching/blocking and rejections with an explanation occurred less but equally often. Moreover, individuals who experienced rejections with an explanation reported the highest painfulness rates, which raised important questions about the reasons behind such explicit rejections. Study 2 further unpacked the provided rejection reasons, from the rejecter and the rejectee perspective. Five categories were identified among the reasons, such as (lack of) attraction and reasons related to relationship investment. Several interesting discrepancies that emerged between reasons provided by rejecters versus rejectees are discussed. Our work underlines the multifaceted nature of rejection experiences in online dating and sets directions for future research that further explores the relationships between rejection types, reasons, and painfulness in detail.

Exploring dating as an occupation for young heterosexual women in Ireland

Purpose

Dating is a meaningful occupation for many single people. The occupation of dating has transformed considerably in Ireland due to recent changes in Irish culture and the advent of online dating technology. The purpose of this study was to explore the complexities and intricacies of dating in an Irish context.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research approach was used and data were collected using semi-structured interviews with ten heterosexual women (age 24‐34) living in urban areas of Ireland. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006).

Findings

Dating did not fully resonate with their experience, but they did not have an alternative term. The form of dating was influenced by cultural, temporal, physical and virtual contexts. Beliefs about dating, fluctuating emotions and feelings of mortification because of the stigma of online dating created meaning for participants and influenced their use of strategies to improve resilience. While dating was not a preferred occupation for participants because of its arduous nature and fluctuations in emotion, it was seen as essential to fulfil the function of finding a romantic partner or partner in occupation. Connections between participant experiences and occupational science are discussed to address the lexicon of dating and the form, function and meaning of dating.

Originality/value

This study contributes to occupational science knowledge by revealing the occupational understandings of dating as an emerging and dynamic occupation in a rapidly changing culture of Ireland.

A Study of the Relationship between Workplace Violence and Online Dating

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of organizational politics on employees’ online dating behavior and how it influences their job satisfaction and organizational citizenship behavior. And this study explores if the leader-member exchange can moderate the relationship between organizational politics and online dating behavior. For this, it collected data from 305 employees in Korean companies through a survey method and uses SPSS 18.0 for hierarchical regression analysis for the hypothesis test. In the results, first, organizational politics increases online dating behavior. Second, online dating behavior decreases each relevant factor of job satisfaction and organizational citizenship behavior. Third, online dating behavior plays the mediating roles between organizational politics and each relevant factor of job satisfaction/organizational citizenship behavior. Finally, affect among the sub-factors of leader-member exchange decrease the effect of organizational politics on online dating behavior.