Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Humanities, Psychology and Social Sciences
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Lived Experiences of Urban Unmarried Adults in Online Romantic Relationships: Their Meaning Making of Intimacy, Passion and Commitment
Lalpeki Ralte
ABSTRACT:
Technological advancements and the rise of online dating apps are reshaping romantic relationships in India, as individuals increasingly turn to these platforms due to the pressures of a work-centric, fragmented offline world. Urban India is still grappling with this shift and its implications. Using the method of Reflexive Thematic Analysis, the current study attempts to understand the lived experiences of 10 unmarried adult participants who initiated contact through online dating platforms to capture relevant themes. The participants were Indians residing in Bengaluru whose ages ranged between 25 to 49 years and who were currently in a heterosexual relationship that had been initiated through online dating platforms at least six months before their recruitment. Purposive and snowball sampling were used for semi-structured interviews. The findings highlight that while intimacy, passion, and commitment are key to romantic relationships, online dating presents numerous challenges, including clarifying partner preferences and establishing healthy boundaries. This study underscores the role of meaning-making in romantic development.
keywords: Online dating, Romantic relationships, Meaning-making, Urban India, Reflexive Thematic Analysis