Captured and Captioned: A Qualitative Study of Representing Long-Distance Relationships on Instagram

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Master of Counseling, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Tehran, Iran

2 Counseling Department, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Counseling, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Aim: This study qualitatively examines the representation of long-distance relationships on Instagram, analyzing how these relationships are portrayed through posts and captions.Method: Using a qualitative approach and Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis method, a total of 740 Instagram posts related to long-distance relationships were initially identified. These posts were collected through a snowball sampling method using specific hashtags. Following a systematic screening process, promotional, non-personal, and irrelevant posts were excluded to focus on real-life experiences, resulting in a final dataset of 182 posts. Selection criteria required posts to contain images of individuals or handwritten messages in Persian, explicitly related to long-distance relationships. The selected images and captions were carefully analyzed and coded.Results: The thematic analysis identified four main themes: (1) Expression of Love and Affection, (2) Planning for the Future, (3) Capturing Special Moments in Long-Distance Relationships, and (4) Waiting and Longing. Findings indicate that Instagram serves as an effective tool for maintaining and strengthening long-distance relationships. Users actively utilize this platform to express emotions, cope with longing, and plan future reunions.Conclusion: This study emphasizes the role of social media, particularly Instagram, in shaping and understanding long-distance relationships. The research specifically identifies relationship patterns within a Persian-language digital context and can be compared with studies conducted in other languages to provide a broader understanding of digital media’s influence. The findings offer valuable insights for psychologists, family counselors, and social science researchers, providing strategies to enhance emotional communication in long-distance relationships.

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