"Dating anxiety is normal when going to college - students feel vulnerable as they get to know people in a new place. They worry about being liked, and then if someone they like does not reciprocate, their mood can plummet. I'll never forget my feelings of anxiety waiting for a fellow student to ask me out, only to have him ask my roommate out instead!"
"Dating has never been stress-free, but has dating anxiety increased in the last decade? Overall levels of anxiety have increased by 65%, with 33% of university students reporting high levels of anxiety in 2024-2025 versus 20% in 2014-2015. In my clinical experience, I have observed an overall increase in dating and relationship anxiety as well. The COVID pandemic only added fuel to the growing levels of anxiety worldwide. I noticed more social anxiety as people emerged from the isolation of the COVID years."
Dating anxiety is common among college students, driven by vulnerability about being liked and sharp mood drops when attraction is unreciprocated. Overall anxiety increased 65% over the last decade, with 33% of university students reporting high anxiety in 2024–2025 versus 20% in 2014–2015. The COVID pandemic amplified social anxiety and left many children and adolescents behind in social-skills development, making reentry to social life challenging. Many young adults meet online, with 65% of 18–29-year-olds using a dating app, yet core dating challenges remain. Campus resources include individual therapy, group therapy, and workshops for dating anxiety.
Read at Psychology Today
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