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GhosTea: A multiple case study on Ghosting among Filipino young adults
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  • SALVACION VILLAFUERTE,
  • John Peter Lerida,
  • Louise Jillian Nuyda,
  • Sam Patriarca,
  • Francis Eloisa Mae Quiogue
SALVACION VILLAFUERTE
Bicol University

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John Peter Lerida
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Louise Jillian Nuyda
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Sam Patriarca
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Francis Eloisa Mae Quiogue
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Abstract

This study took on a qualitative approach with a multiple case study design. The researchers gathered and analyzed data on the psychological issues of the victims after being ghosted which requires deeper knowledge about the event. Multiple case study was the best fit to fulfill this research because the design will serve as an avenue to capture different profiles of victims and perspectives of the experiences of the victims after being ghosted in a romantic relationship to explain the mental and emotional struggles, psychological issues, and coping strategies of victims.
Examining the narratives of the five (5) young adult victims of ghosting through Thematic Analysis, it was found that these narratives encompass the three themes that emerged in the study, namely The Masala Effect, The Matcha Effect, and The Lapsang Effect, which illustrate the issues faced by the victims in their ghosting experiences. These themes serve as the guidelines that will promote societal awareness and further understanding of the actual gravity of the phenomenon with studies conducted by Freedman et al. (2022) and Pancani et al. (2022) confirming that victims of ghosting experienced more of a threat to their fundamental psychological needs, and with Holmes (2022) acknowledging the boom of technology generated new human experiences like being ghosted makes the end of a romantic relationship even more difficult, stressing that it is important to seek understanding of this phenomenon sooner than later to understand the future of romantic relationships and society at a whole.. This paper also supplements past studies which failed to focus on the emotional and psychological impact of ghosting on its victims. The findings of this study also provided an eye-opener for the general public that ghosting exists and compromises the emotional and psychological stability of the victims in the aftermath of being ghosted. With increased understanding of this phenomenon, individuals, mental health professionals, and organizations can help recognize and address the issue more effectively. This research on the psychological issues faced by victims of ghosting can promote prevention efforts by increasing awareness of the issue and its potential negative impacts. This could lead to increased efforts to prevent ghosting, both at the individual level (e.g., through education and communication about healthy relationship communication) and at the organizational level (e.g., through policies and practices that discourage ghosting in the workplace). Along with that, this research supplements the need for data in the Southeast Asian context of dating culture, specifically in the Philippines.