Testing the Theory of Motivated Information Management in Online Dating

Online dating introduces communicative affordances that heighten uncertainty in early relational stages. Guided by the Theory of Motivated Information Management (TMIM), this study examines how individuals manage uncertainty through emotions, efficacy evaluations, and information-seeking behaviors. Expanding TMIM, we assess negative emotions beyond anxiety (i.e. fear, anger, and sadness) and explore multidimensional efficacy in digitally mediated contexts. Using survey data from 255 online daters, results support core TMIM pathways and reveal patterns specific to online interactions, including the convergence of passive and extractive strategies. Findings refine TMIM’s treatment of emotion, clarify efficacy structures in online settings, and highlight how users navigate uncertainty digitally, underscoring the need to adapt uncertainty management models to the affordances of online dating.