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

Authors

Heidi Adams Rueda, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow
Megan Lindsay, Arizona State University
Lela Rankin Williams, Arizona State University

Author ORCID Identifier

Rueda - https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4321-1943

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-25-2014

Publication Title

Journal of Adolescent Research

Volume

30

Issue

4

First Page

419

Last Page

445

Abstract

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.

Comments

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Sage in Journal of Adolescent Research on December 25, 2014, available online: https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558414565236

Reuse restricted to noncommercial and no derivative uses.

Copyright held by authors.

Recommended Citation

Rueda, H. A., Lindsay, M., & Williams, L. R. (2015). “She Posted It on Facebook”: Mexican American Adolescents’ Experiences With Technology and Romantic Relationship Conflict. Journal of Adolescent Research, 30(4), 419–445. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558414565236