She Posted It on Facebook: Mexican American Adolescents’ Experiences With Technology and Romantic Relationship Conflict

We examined experiences with technology and dating conflict among Mexican American (MA) adolescents (ages 15-17 years) using mixed qualitative methodologies. Focus groups, divided by three levels of acculturation and gender (N = 20), and videotaped observations of couples (N = 34), found that techno...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of adolescent research 2015-07, Vol.30 (4), p.419-445
Main Authors: Rueda, Heidi Adams, Lindsay, Megan, Williams, Lela Rankin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acculturation
Emotions
Gender differences
Hispanic Americans
Personal relationships
Social networks
Teenagers
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Summary:We examined experiences with technology and dating conflict among Mexican American (MA) adolescents (ages 15-17 years) using mixed qualitative methodologies. Focus groups, divided by three levels of acculturation and gender (N = 20), and videotaped observations of couples (N = 34), found that technology (i.e., cell phones, social media) afforded adolescents increased visibility of their partners’ day-to-day peer interactions. Feelings of romantic jealousy resulted in text message harassment and the expectation of immediate technology-facilitated contact. Females were more flirtatious as well as emotionally affected by jealousy resulting from social media sites, and males set rules regarding other-sex texting. Social media was particularly salient among more highly acculturated youth. Online spaces offered an opportunity for outside parties to observe unhealthy relationships and to offer support.
ISSN:0743-5584
1552-6895
DOI:10.1177/0743558414565236