Date
4-29-2026
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)
Chair
Thomas C. Vail
Keywords
Wives, online, Christian, communication, relationship, emotional intelligence, online/virtual
Disciplines
Social and Behavioral Sciences | Sociology
Recommended Citation
Carlton, Carl A., "A Transcendental Phenomenological Study of the Experiences Of Christian Men Who Met Their Wives Online" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8315.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8315
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological research project examines the lived relational experiences of Christian men who met their wives or began their relationships on dating websites. The study focused on the men’s efforts to establish communication and connection while utilizing online/virtual methods. The theoretical and empirical frameworks for this transcendental phenomenological study focused attention on the lived experiences of Christian men and examined the factors that assisted or hindered their efforts to successfully find a mate using a dating website. Interviews were conducted to acquire information and to develop data. The interviews revealed the primary themes of “finding a partner,” “establishing a friendship/relationship,” and “building and sustaining the relationship.” Multiple secondary themes were identified. Literature was selected regarding online interaction, usage, and how it may have influenced the dating process. The study intended to learn and understand the role online/virtual dating played in the quest of finding their mates. The experiences of the Christian men were reviewed in the online/virtual world and this work served as a starting point to further investigate the challenges encountered via online/virtual methods of dating by Christian men.
