Internet-Mediated Dating/Romance of Mauritian Early Adolescents: A Grounded Theory Analysis

Abstract

This study focused on describing the ecology of Mauritian early adolescents’ Internet- mediated dating/romance. It used a grounded theory analysis of 136 narrative interviews and eight focus group discussions from Mauritian early adolescents (10-14 years old). The main findings were that (a) within a conservative society like Mauritius, cyberspace has become the new secret environment for early adolescents to experience, understand, learn and fantasise dating/romantic behaviour; (b) Internet-mediated dating/romantic patterns described by the early adolescents in Mauritius is somewhat similar to those patterns identified in face-to-face dating/romance within the western context; (c) contrary to some common beliefs, Mauritian early adolescents’ Internet-mediated dating/romance is not idealised by sexual activities, but rather by the approval of their parents for relationships, marriage and having children.

Keywords: Mauritius; Internet; romance; early adolescence; grounded theory

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