The lived experience of online dating

There have been few qualitative studies that have investigated the use of online dating as a means to initiate a dating relationship. The purpose of this study was to describe and examine the psychological elements and structure of the lived experience of participants who's online dating led to a significant dating relationship.;This research study utilized the descriptive phenomenological methodology developed by Giorgi. Six randomly selected adults who used online dating web sites or Internet correspondence to develop at least one dating relationship that lasted for a minimum of 3 months participated in this study. Three males and 3 females were chosen from 10 individuals who had responded to an ad placed in a local newspaper. Six in-person open-ended interviews each lasting 60 to 75 minutes were tape-recorded. The transcribed data was transformed into meaning units.;The research findings revealed the following 6 constituents common to the participants in this study: (a) A desire to use online technology to meet a wider variety of compatible dating partners, partners that meet a specific list of physical, emotional, sexual, and social criteria; (b) Difficulty managing serial correspondences, different web services, and trying to balance relationships in different stages of communication while concealing online behavior from friends due to embarrassment; (c) Experience of deception and distorted information in online communication leading to increased caution and establishment of safety measures; (d) Appreciation of the ease of self-disclosure afforded by online communication followed by an awareness that extensive self-disclosure can result in premature emotional intimacy between individuals, and that physical chemistry is an important key in the development of long-term relationships regardless of other stated priorities; (e) Impulsive sexual and emotional behavior often overrode carefully formulated safety plans resulting in eventual termination of the relationship; (f) A sense of gratitude for positive in-person dating experiences as well as an increased self-esteem and confidence in dating. Several participants found lasting romantic relationships. All benefited from exploring different facets of their personality, improved their interpersonal relationship skills, and gained a deeper respect for their uniqueness.