Young adults’ use of social media platforms in maintaining passion and intimacy within romantic love relationships
- Authors: Maytham, Lauren
- Date: 2024-12
- Subjects: Intimacy (Psychology) , Young adults , Online dating
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/69816 , vital:78037
- Description: As technology has advanced, social media platforms have multiplied worldwide, allowing individuals to remain in contact with loved ones near and far. Despite the separation caused by distance, individuals can connect with each other, with social media playing an important role in developing and maintaining modern relationships. This, too, with romantic relationships. Existing research often overlooks the lived experiences of young adults maintaining romantic relationships through social media platforms in South Africa. This study addresses this gap by understanding how social media platforms enhance passion and intimacy, offering insights into the complexities of relationships. Young adults can interact with their romantic partners and explore alternative ways to maintain intimacy and passion when they are not physically together. The primary aim of this research is to understand the lived experiences of young adults who use social media platforms to maintain romantic love relationships. To pursue this aim, the researcher employed a qualitative phenomenological research design with a sample of eight participants, consisting of young adults aged 18 to 35. The participants were obtained using purposive and snowball sampling. The data was collected via online interviews utilising in-depth interviews. The data from participants' interviews was categorised, transcribed, and analysed for themes using Braun and Clarke's (2006) thematic analysis. The researcher adhered to ethical principles throughout the research. The findings revealed that routine interactions, such as messaging and video calls, are essential in maintaining relational stability and intimacy. Moreover, social media enhances passion by facilitating the sharing of romantic content, which in turn builds anticipation for physical reunions. However, maintaining privacy and boundaries is essential, requiring mutual understanding and respect. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Behavioural & Lifestyle Sciences, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-12
- Authors: Maytham, Lauren
- Date: 2024-12
- Subjects: Intimacy (Psychology) , Young adults , Online dating
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/69816 , vital:78037
- Description: As technology has advanced, social media platforms have multiplied worldwide, allowing individuals to remain in contact with loved ones near and far. Despite the separation caused by distance, individuals can connect with each other, with social media playing an important role in developing and maintaining modern relationships. This, too, with romantic relationships. Existing research often overlooks the lived experiences of young adults maintaining romantic relationships through social media platforms in South Africa. This study addresses this gap by understanding how social media platforms enhance passion and intimacy, offering insights into the complexities of relationships. Young adults can interact with their romantic partners and explore alternative ways to maintain intimacy and passion when they are not physically together. The primary aim of this research is to understand the lived experiences of young adults who use social media platforms to maintain romantic love relationships. To pursue this aim, the researcher employed a qualitative phenomenological research design with a sample of eight participants, consisting of young adults aged 18 to 35. The participants were obtained using purposive and snowball sampling. The data was collected via online interviews utilising in-depth interviews. The data from participants' interviews was categorised, transcribed, and analysed for themes using Braun and Clarke's (2006) thematic analysis. The researcher adhered to ethical principles throughout the research. The findings revealed that routine interactions, such as messaging and video calls, are essential in maintaining relational stability and intimacy. Moreover, social media enhances passion by facilitating the sharing of romantic content, which in turn builds anticipation for physical reunions. However, maintaining privacy and boundaries is essential, requiring mutual understanding and respect. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Behavioural & Lifestyle Sciences, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-12
Young adults' experiences of romantic love relationships in virtual space
- Authors: Lambert, Tania
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Online dating , Intimacy (Psychology) , Young adults
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7577 , vital:21930
- Description: The arena for finding an intimate partner has changed significantly in the 21st century with online love relationships becoming more prevalent. Research indicates that individuals do experience meaningful online romantic love relationships and that these relationships often lead to face to face (FTF) relationships. However, limited research has been done on exploring the experiences of those who are/were involved in online romantic love relationships. Furthermore, research conducted on online love romantic relationships generally fails to investigate how people experience passion online, hereby ignoring this integral component of romantic love. The primary aim of the research study was to explore young adults’ experiences of romantic love relationships in virtual space. More specifically, the study explored how young adults experienced intimacy and passion as elements of romantic love online. The study was viewed from an interpretative paradigm and made use of a qualitative approach. The researcher conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with seven participants which were transcribed, and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Four superordinate themes were identified, namely, Online Intimacy, Online Romance and Passion, Online Love, and Social Exchange Online. The participants experienced romantic love online and reported that these relationships were very significant, real and impacted on their psychological well-being. The study created a heuristic base that will provide impetus for this emerging field in research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Lambert, Tania
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Online dating , Intimacy (Psychology) , Young adults
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7577 , vital:21930
- Description: The arena for finding an intimate partner has changed significantly in the 21st century with online love relationships becoming more prevalent. Research indicates that individuals do experience meaningful online romantic love relationships and that these relationships often lead to face to face (FTF) relationships. However, limited research has been done on exploring the experiences of those who are/were involved in online romantic love relationships. Furthermore, research conducted on online love romantic relationships generally fails to investigate how people experience passion online, hereby ignoring this integral component of romantic love. The primary aim of the research study was to explore young adults’ experiences of romantic love relationships in virtual space. More specifically, the study explored how young adults experienced intimacy and passion as elements of romantic love online. The study was viewed from an interpretative paradigm and made use of a qualitative approach. The researcher conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with seven participants which were transcribed, and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Four superordinate themes were identified, namely, Online Intimacy, Online Romance and Passion, Online Love, and Social Exchange Online. The participants experienced romantic love online and reported that these relationships were very significant, real and impacted on their psychological well-being. The study created a heuristic base that will provide impetus for this emerging field in research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
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