A Phenomenological Study of Friends-with-Benefits Relationships in Early Adulthood in the Context of Thai Society
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Abstract
This qualitative research aimed to explore the attitudes, meanings, conditions, and impacts of “Friends with Benefits” (FWB) relationships among emerging adults in the context of Thai society. In-depth interviews were employed as the primary data collection method with a purposively selected group of 15 participants, comprising men, women, and individuals identifying as LGBTQ+. The findings revealed that (1) In terms of attitude and meaning, the informants reflected an ambivalent state between the desire for closeness and the maintenance of personal freedom. The attitudes depended on life experiences, sexual identity, and social context. (2) In terms of conditions and causes, males often wanted to control the boundaries of the relationship and avoid emotional vulnerability. Females chose this type of relationship from experiences of failed love in order to maintain a level of attachment. Meanwhile, the LGBTQ+ group used non-committed relationships as a space to explore and affirm their identity, as well as to avoid stigmatization from heteronormative norms in society. (3) In terms of impacts, non-committed relationships affected emotional development, identity formation, and relationship management—both in terms of self-understanding, avoidance of emotional harm, and confusion when facing unintended attachment.
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