Differences between computer-mediated and face-to-face romantic relationships: A qualitative investigation into the allures and drawbacks of the two types of relationships.

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the assumptions, beliefs, perspectives, and behaviors of people who have engaged in romantic online relationships. Ten college students (five females and five males) from a public university in a southwestern state participated in this research study. Themes that emerged from the participants' stories relate to physical attraction, convenience, anonymity, ease, and depth of online communication, commitment, intimacy, and duration of romantic online relationships, trust, misrepresentation online, effects on academic performance and existing relationships, conflicts, selection of the fittest, intellectual and emotional intelligence, and lessons learned.