Americans are more likely to ‘swipe right’ on dating app profiles that mention therapy, finds study

Henry Cloud put it perfectly, “Dating is about finding out who you are and who others are. If you show up in a masquerade outfit, neither is going to happen.” Everyone tries to put their best foot forward when it comes to first dates. In this pursuit, most refrain from opening up about their mental health troubles during the initial phase of getting to know someone. They fear it might lead to them being judged poorly. However, as per a recent survey conducted by the dating app Pure, this worry is unfounded as being open about mental health issues has become an appealing trait in the dating world.

The study's results encourage individuals to talk about mental health and therapy on the first date so that the groundwork of the relationship is formulated with authenticity and honesty. Of the study's participants, 70% reported that they felt comfortable with therapy as a topic of discussion during the first date. This is reflective of the changing attitude towards mental health in the country. The year 2022 saw 23% of adults visiting a psychologist, as per Gallup, which is a huge jump from 13% two decades ago.

The survey further reveals that therapy might actually bolster a person's chances of a first date. About half of the people in the study found people attending therapy to be an attractive quality. They felt safe as therapy implied that the other individual in the equation could possibly be more caring in their approach. As a result of this, 53% of survey participants noted that they would swipe right to profiles mentioning therapy. Forget the first date, it is a great way to connect with your match. By feeling ashamed about therapy, you might actually be hurting your chance in the dating scene.

Another aspect that people tend to associate with therapy is self-awareness. They are more capable of communicating their needs and wants. Therefore, 92% of the people in the study showed a preference towards going on a date with people working towards their mental health.

The survey was done on the users of the Pure dating platform. According to their website, Pure "is all about honest dating without shame. It’s a place where you can let yourself loose and play it real, whoever you choose to be, as long as you respect other people’s boundaries."

Talking about why therapy has become such a desirable attribute in partners, Olga Petrunina, CEO of Pure stated, “Therapy helps people define themselves and feel more at ease to talk openly, establish boundaries and respect their partners’ space. I never tire of repeating communication is the key to a good relationship and sex. Therapy improves these soft skills and helps people navigate the world of dating. It gets even more critical when it comes to unusual practices, where trust and safety play a part. People need to be mindful of their actions and consequences, and therapy helps to build a strong understanding of those.”

Pure users came forward with their take on how therapy impacted their dating life. One user shared that therapy helped them understand their feelings and process them better. Another chimed in saying that it helped her understand her worth. Talking about therapy is a great conversation starter, but don't put your other appealing qualities in the back pocket. Everything is great only in moderation. Trauma dumping on the first date is not a great idea. The idea is to be open about yourself and not feel ashamed about your awesome personality.