Thematic and extra-thematic analysis of the experience of love in adolescence: A systematic review

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Ph. D. in Educational Psychology, Department of Clinical-Educational Psychology, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical-Education Psychology, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

3 Associate professor, Department of Methods, Educational Planning, and Curriculum, faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background: Love is a phenomenon that some adolescents encounter. Conceptualized as a multifaceted construct, it possesses undeniable significance for humans and has drawn increasing scholarly attention in recent decades.
Aim: The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review of both the latent and manifest themes related to the experience of love during adolescence.
Method: Employing a systematic review approach, this study examined published articles addressing the phenomenon of adolescent love, sourced from both national and international journals. Databases and search engines such as ScienceDirect, Ensani, Magiran, SID, and Google Scholar were utilized to identify relevant literature published from the year 2000 onward. Keywords included adolescent love, romantic relationships in adolescence, and their Persian equivalents. Ultimately, 14 relevant and non-duplicate articles were identified and included in the study. The review process was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA statement. To analyze the selected documents, Altheide’s qualitative content analysis strategy was applied.
Results: Adolescent love was categorized into two domains: intrapersonal themes (personal experiences, emotional changes, preferences, and perspectives on love) and external themes (love myths, likelihood of romantic success, family roles, parent-child relationships, and environmental influences). Intrapersonal factors such as hormonal changes, impulsivity, and fluctuating emotions foster romantic involvement, but self-control remains critical. Mutual love was reported more among males, while those experiencing Pragma love a practical, gradually maturing form reported greater happiness. Narratives, family environment, and parenting styles strongly shape adolescent love. The review found sexual interactions were not a primary.
Conclusions: The study underscores the importance of raising cultural awareness about adolescent love and highlights the need for educating parents, educators, and adolescents through broader policy interventions. These may include integrating content on adolescent emotional development and romantic experiences into school curricula, and providing guidance on how to approach this complex developmental phenomenon.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Qualitative Research in Behavioral Sciences (QRBS)
Volume 4, Issue 1 - Serial Number 7
August 2025
Pages 179-200

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History

  • Receive Date: 13 February 2025
  • Revise Date: 16 May 2025
  • Accept Date: 09 July 2025

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