And in fact, research suggests that there are no significant personality differences between online and offline daters.5 There is some evidence that online daters are more sensitive to interpersonal rejection, but even these findings have been mixed.6, 7 As far as the demographic characteristics of online daters, a large survey using a nationally representative sample of recently married adults found that compared to those who
met their spouses offline, those who met online were more likely to be working, Hispanic, or of a higher socioeconomic status — not exactly a demographic portrait of desperate losers.8
Those who
met their spouses offline also reported where they met their partners (e.g., at work, through friends, at a bar / club).
Not exact matches
A 2013 study by Harvard and Chicago universities found that
spouses who
met online were both more satisfied in their marriages and less likely to get divorced than couples
meeting offline.1 Our members are diverse, but they all share one common goal — to find lasting love.
I've mentioned it before, but what are the odds of
meeting someone randomly
offline who
meets all the criteria of what you're looking for in a
spouse?
For instance, people who
meet online may be different from people who
meet offline in some way not measured, such as motivation to find a
spouse or impulse control.
Just under 6 % of those who
met their
spouse online had divorced or separated compared to 7.67 % of those who
met offline.
Even among Americans who have been with their
spouse or partner for five years or less, fully 88 % say that they
met their partner
offline — without the help of a dating site.
eHarmony also found that
offline, Americans
met their
spouses 15 % of the time through work and another 15 % of the time through friends.
The differences in marital outcomes from online and
offline meetings persisted after controlling for demographic differences, but «it is possible that individuals who
met their
spouse online may be different in personality, motivation to form a long - term marital relationship, or some other factor,» said Cacioppo.
A 2010 University of Iowa study found that
spouses who
met online averaged 18 1/2 months of dating before getting married, compared to 42 months for couples who
met offline.