Modeling the Relationship Between Virtual Space Addiction, Reduced Emotional Presence, and Marital Satisfaction: The Mediating Role of Loneliness in the Relationship
Keywords:
Virtual space addiction, emotional presence, marital satisfaction, relational loneliness, couples, qualitative research, grounded theoryAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to qualitatively explain the relational and emotional mechanisms through which virtual space addiction contributes to reduced emotional presence and marital satisfaction, with emphasis on the mediating role of loneliness in the relationship.
Methods and Materials: This qualitative study was conducted using a grounded theory design. The research population consisted of married women and men living in Tehran who had experienced meaningful marital difficulties related to excessive use of virtual space. Participants were selected through purposive and theoretical sampling, and recruitment continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. A total of 22 participants, including 11 women and 11 men, took part in the study. Data were collected exclusively through in-depth semi-structured interviews. Interviews lasted between 45 and 80 minutes. Data were analyzed through open, axial, and selective coding using NVivo software. To enhance trustworthiness, member checking, peer debriefing, audit trail, constant comparison, and maximum variation sampling were used.
Findings: Data analysis resulted in five main categories: behavioral and cognitive dependence on virtual space, erosion of emotional presence in the marital relationship, loneliness within the relationship, decline in marital satisfaction, and maladaptive or restorative coping strategies. The findings indicated that virtual space addiction occupies partners’ attention, reduces emotional responsiveness, disrupts shared time, and intensifies perceived rejection. These processes create relational loneliness, which gradually leads to reduced intimacy, increased conflict, diminished sexual and emotional satisfaction, and a weaker perception of marital quality.
Conclusion: The results suggest that loneliness in the relationship acts as a key mediating mechanism between virtual space addiction and reduced marital satisfaction. Therefore, couple-based interventions should not be limited to digital use management; rather, they should focus on restoring emotional presence, enhancing partner responsiveness, rebuilding intimacy, and establishing mutually agreed digital boundaries within marital life.
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