Relationship fluidity: The changing nature of intimacy for emerging adult women

Megan Lindsay Brown, Judy Krysik, Walter LaMendola, Drishti Sinha, Lauren Reed

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Emerging adults are persistent users of information and communication technology (ICT), with young women between 18-29 being the highest users of ICT in the United States. Relatively little research has investigated how young women internalize experiences of emerging adulthood in the context of their development, and especially intimate relationships. Using qualitative interviews with young adult women, this chapter will explore how high ICT use mediates the developmental tasks of forming an adult identity and intimate relationships. Emerging adult women (18-29) who were high users of ICT (N=22) described their user habits and discussed their developmental trajectories and experiences. Findings demonstrated that identity and intimacy are still pertinent developmental tasks for emerging adults but have changed in nature allowing a fluidity that challenges the bounds of traditionally developmental theories.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationRecent Advances in Digital Media Impacts on Identity, Sexuality, and Relationships
PublisherIGI Global
Pages39-61
Number of pages23
ISBN (Electronic)9781799810650
ISBN (Print)9781799810636
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 29 2019

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Social Sciences

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Relationship fluidity: The changing nature of intimacy for emerging adult women'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this