Berhanu, Feven (2024) The Quest for Connection: Older Australian Adults Online Dating Expectations Versus Reality. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
![[img]](https://sear.unisq.edu.au/style/images/fileicons/text.png) |
Text
Berhanu - The Quest for Connection Older Australian Adults Online Dating Expectations Versus Reality.pdf Download (1MB) |
Abstract
With an increasing older population, understanding the evolution of social connections and reducing isolation in later life through online dating is essential. Previous research overlooks the Australian context and focuses on self-presentation, successful ageing, and gender roles, limiting the exploration of how these factors intersect to shape expectations and realities for older adults in online dating. Using a constructivist approach to analyse qualitative data, this study aimed to explore older Australian adults online dating expectations versus the reality of their experiences. A total of 27 participants (aged 60 to 76 years old) took part in an online survey, with six participants undertaking follow-up interviews. Data were analysed inductively using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings showed that older adults enter online dating with a clear set of expectations related to the health, physical characteristics, and personality traits of their potential partner. Older adults continually experience differences in others self-presentation online and their true selves. Additionally, older adults experience conflict between traditional gender role expectations and modern online dating practices. Misalignment between online dating expectations and reality engenders disappointment. Despite these challenges, most older adults remain committed to continuing online dating. The findings from this research could guide future development around theories on misrepresentation in online dating and offer recommendations for improving online dating platforms and government public health messaging to better support older adults.
|
Statistics for this ePrint Item |
| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current – Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Wellbeing (1 Jan 2022 -) |
| Supervisors: | Dr. Winterbotham, Sonya |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Jan 2026 01:31 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Jan 2026 01:31 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | expectations vs reality, older adults, online dating, self-presentation, successful ageing |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1701 Psychology > 170106 Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5203 Clinical and health psychology > 520304 Health psychology 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5203 Clinical and health psychology > 520303 Counselling psychology |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/53077 |
Actions (login required)
 |
Archive Repository Staff Only |
