International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

E-ISSN: 2582-2160   •   Impact Factor: 9.24

A Widely Indexed Open Access Peer Reviewed Multidisciplinary Bi-monthly Scholarly International Journal

Call for Paper Volume 8, Issue 4 (July-August 2026) Submit your research before last 3 days of August to publish your research paper in the issue of July-August.
Submit Research Paper Join as a Reviewer

Plagiarism is checked by the leading plagiarism checker TurnItIn

Call for Paper

Volume 8 Issue 4
July-August 2026

Submit your research paper

Indexing Partners
Academia Advanced Sciences Index Bielefeld Academic Search Engine CiteSeer DRJI Google Scholar Independent Search Engine & Directory Network ISI (International Scientific Indexing) Issuu Mendeley Research Networks
RefSeek ResearcherId - Thomson Reuters ResearchGate Scirus Scribd Semantic Scholar UTeM - Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka Wiki for Call for Papers WorldCat Zenodo

Holding Space Within Love: Personal Space, Selfhood, and Intimacy in Romantic Relationships

Author(s) Ms. Shifa Munaf Nandyal
Country India
Abstract Romantic relationship research has traditionally emphasized cohabitation and shared domestic space as markers of commitment and relational stability. However, many contemporary romantic partnerships involve individuals who maintain separate residences due to developmental stage, educational trajectories, or other social circumstances. Within such contexts, the experience and interpretation of personal space become central relational processes. The present qualitative study explored how individuals in committed romantic relationships construct meaning around personal time and autonomy within their partnerships. Guided by a phenomenological orientation, the study examined lived experiences of personal space and its relational significance. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 participants aged 20–25 years who were involved in romantic relationships lasting between six months and five years. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis. Five interrelated themes were identified: autonomy and preservation of individual identity, communication and relational boundary negotiation, internalized relational expectations shaping interpretations of space, developmental reframing of personal time, and the influence of familial and cultural narratives on experiences of autonomy. Findings suggest that personal space was experienced as supporting emotional regulation and identity maintenance while simultaneously requiring communicative reassurance within relationships. Rather than representing relational distance, personal time was often experienced as supporting intimacy by enabling individuals to maintain a coherent sense of self. The study contributes to relationship science by illustrating how autonomy and intimacy are dynamically integrated within contemporary romantic partnerships.
Keywords personal space, autonomy, intimacy, relational boundaries
Published In Volume 8, Issue 4, July-August 2026
Published On 2026-08-14
DOI https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i04.85738
View / Download PDF File

Share this



E-ISSN 2582-2160
CrossRef

CrossRef DOI prefix of IJFMR is 10.36948/ijfmr

Downloads
Research Paper Format Copyright Permission Form and Undertaking Form

All research papers published on this website are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and all rights belong to their respective authors/researchers.

CC-BY-SA Open Access

About IJFMR
Fees & Payment
Current Issue
Publication Archive 		Submit Research Paper
Track Submission Status
Publication Guidelines
Publication Ethics
Peer Review & Plagiarism 		Join as a Reviewer
Editors & Reviewers
Reviewer Referral Program
Get Reviewer Membership Certi. 		Website/Journal Policies
Usage Policy
Content Policies
Privacy Policy
Contact Us +91-9687-828-838 editor@ijfmr.com
Powered by Sky Research Publication and Journals