- Title
- Young adults’ use of social media platforms in maintaining passion and intimacy within romantic love relationships
- Creator
- Maytham, Lauren
- Subject
- Intimacy (Psychology)
- Subject
- Young adults
- Subject
- Online dating
- Date Issued
- 2024-12
- Date
- 2024-12
- Type
- Master's theses
- Type
- text
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10948/69816
- Identifier
- 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.
- Description
- Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Behavioural & Lifestyle Sciences, 2024
- Format
- computer
- Format
- online resource
- Format
- application/pdf
- Format
- 1 online resource (133 pages)
- Format
- Publisher
- Nelson Mandela University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Nelson Mandela University
- Rights
- All Rights Reserved
- Rights
- Open Access
- Hits: 5
- Visitors: 7
- Downloads: 2
Collections
NMU School of Clinical Care Sciences
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | MAYTHAM, LK December 2024 .pdf | 1 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |