View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

Dialogism and Meaning-Making in Online Romantic Relationships and Friendships.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Dialogism and Meaning-Making in Online Romantic Relationships and Friendships.
Authors: Pilek, Melane (AUTHOR), de Saint Laurent, Constance (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Constructivist Psychology. Oct-Dec2025, Vol. 38 Issue 4, p634-654. 21p.
Subjects: Interpersonal relations, Sociocultural factors, Social context, Digital communications, Dialogics, Contextualism (Philosophy), Negotiation
Abstract: Despite the recognition that technology is ubiquitous and critical in modern interpersonal relationships, little is known about the meaning individuals assign to their close online relationships. Furthermore, there persists a negative bias toward online relationships. This study, using a sociocultural approach, sought to address this gap by qualitatively investing adults' lived experiences and processes of meaning-making in online relationships. Specifically, we sought to identify common dialogical tensions in participants' discourses as the moments when meaning is created and negotiated in dialogue with the medium and cultural context. Thirteen semi-structured interviews were carried out in-depth with participants who had diverse experiences of close online relationships, including romantic relationships, dating, familial relationships, and friendships. We assumed that the distinctiveness of this research design would highlight the interconnectedness between different types of relationships. Additionally, we expected more pronounced levels of tensions among close relationships enabled by technology. Through the analysis of dialogical discursive tensions, we identified four main tensions in the discourses: opportunities/constraints, authenticity/staginess, safety/risk, and proximity/distance. The latter emerged as a fundamental tension, intertwining with other tensions, and prompting reflections on the realness, depth, and validity of online relationships. The analysis unveiled that individuals' experiences with online relationships are shaped by the actual use of the medium, societal representation of technology, and cultural discourses. Often, these cultural discourses and representations contrast with individuals' lived experiences, contributing to the tensions. Navigating these factors poses a significant challenge for participants as they negotiate the complexities of online relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Constructivist Psychology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 188157157
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Dialogism and Meaning-Making in Online Romantic Relationships and Friendships.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pilek%2C+Melane%22">Pilek, Melane</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22de+Saint+Laurent%2C+Constance%22">de Saint Laurent, Constance</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Constructivist+Psychology%22">Journal of Constructivist Psychology</searchLink>. Oct-Dec2025, Vol. 38 Issue 4, p634-654. 21p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interpersonal+relations%22">Interpersonal relations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sociocultural+factors%22">Sociocultural factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+context%22">Social context</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Digital+communications%22">Digital communications</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Dialogics%22">Dialogics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Contextualism+%28Philosophy%29%22">Contextualism (Philosophy)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Negotiation%22">Negotiation</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Despite the recognition that technology is ubiquitous and critical in modern interpersonal relationships, little is known about the meaning individuals assign to their close online relationships. Furthermore, there persists a negative bias toward online relationships. This study, using a sociocultural approach, sought to address this gap by qualitatively investing adults' lived experiences and processes of meaning-making in online relationships. Specifically, we sought to identify common dialogical tensions in participants' discourses as the moments when meaning is created and negotiated in dialogue with the medium and cultural context. Thirteen semi-structured interviews were carried out in-depth with participants who had diverse experiences of close online relationships, including romantic relationships, dating, familial relationships, and friendships. We assumed that the distinctiveness of this research design would highlight the interconnectedness between different types of relationships. Additionally, we expected more pronounced levels of tensions among close relationships enabled by technology. Through the analysis of dialogical discursive tensions, we identified four main tensions in the discourses: opportunities/constraints, authenticity/staginess, safety/risk, and proximity/distance. The latter emerged as a fundamental tension, intertwining with other tensions, and prompting reflections on the realness, depth, and validity of online relationships. The analysis unveiled that individuals' experiences with online relationships are shaped by the actual use of the medium, societal representation of technology, and cultural discourses. Often, these cultural discourses and representations contrast with individuals' lived experiences, contributing to the tensions. Navigating these factors poses a significant challenge for participants as they negotiate the complexities of online relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Constructivist Psychology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=188157157
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/10720537.2024.2447520
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 21
        StartPage: 634
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Interpersonal relations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sociocultural factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social context
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Digital communications
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Dialogics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Contextualism (Philosophy)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Negotiation
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Dialogism and Meaning-Making in Online Romantic Relationships and Friendships.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Pilek, Melane
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: de Saint Laurent, Constance
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 10
              Text: Oct-Dec2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 10720537
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 38
            – Type: issue
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Constructivist Psychology
              Type: main
ResultId 1