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Internet dating is growing, but so are divorce rates. New research reveals that these two trends are linked, as online couples are significantly more likely to break up than those who got to known each other offline.

Researchers said hat the latest study is important because of the growing popularity of social media, online dating sites and mobile applications for meeting and initiating relationships.

The purpose of the latest study was to see whether there were differences in breakup rates for online and offline couples. Researchers observed both marital and non-marital relationships.

The latest study "Is Online Better Than Offline for Meeting Partners? Depends: Are You Looking to Marry Or to Date?" reveals higher breakup rates in couples who met online compared to offline. This was true for both marital and non-marital romantic relationships.

The study also reveals that other factors also predict whether a couple will stay together or break up. Researchers found that factors like quality and duration of the relationship also significantly predict the likelihood of couples staying together.

"The time-tested qualities of trust and intimacy still remain important factors on determining whether a couple stays together, regardless of whether they meet offline or online," Editor-in-Chief Brenda K. Wiederhold, PhD, MBA, BCB, BCN, Virtual Reality Medical Institute, Brussels, Belgium and Interactive Media Institute, San Diego, California, said in a news release.

The findings were published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.