Pathology of Relationship with Different Sex in Virtual Social Networks: A Phenomenology Study with Adolescents

Abstract

Aim and Background: The expansion of internet and creation of social networks in its context, has caused a lot of interactions among people. Relationship with different sex is one of the phenomenon which is very common through cyberspace so that today these relationships has also been extended to adolescence. The purpose of this study was to study the pathology of relationship with different sex in virtual social networks to get a deeper understanding of it in adolescents. Methods and Materials: The research method was qualitative and descriptive phenomenology. Semi-structured interviews and Colaizzi method were used to collection and analyzing data. The sample consisted of 11 students aged 14-16 years old in one of the high schools of Tehran 18th district which were selected through purposeful sampling. Findings: Interviews analysis led to the identification of 3 main themes contains, experience with different sex, sexual corruption and traumatic consequences and 11 categories contains, motivations for communication, relationship modeling with different sex, variety of relationships, competition for takeover, strengthening relationship, sexual communication, promoting sexual corruption, sexual harm, social harm, and personal injury and 73 initial concepts. Conclusions: The results showed virtual social networks facilitates and strengthen the communication with different sexes and provides the context for their real-world communication and its harmful consequences.

Keywords

• adolescence
• cyberspace
• relationship to different sex.