A recent study by the University of Illinois shows that Nigerian college students, like their counterparts worldwide, continue to experience romantic relationships in familiar stages, even in the age of dating apps and social media. The research compared how students described the development of romantic relationships in 2012 and 2022, finding little change in the basic process.
The study focused on young adults aged 18 to 29 and surveyed students at a large Midwestern university in the United States; however, its findings offer insight into dating patterns relevant to Nigerian youths, who are also increasingly active on digital dating platforms.
Researchers sought to understand whether technological and cultural changes had altered students’ perceptions of the progression of relationships. Data was collected through open-ended surveys where participants outlined the typical phases of a romantic relationship.
Results from both years showed four main stages: initial attraction and flirting, exploring relationship potential, becoming exclusive, and finally, deciding on long-term commitment or separation.
The first phase, often referred to as a “flirtationship,” involves early attraction and interaction, whether face-to-face or online. Interestingly, students did not focus heavily on technology at this stage, suggesting that flirting remains a personal and social experience rather than a purely digital one.
Next, in the “relationship potential” stage, students spend more intentional time together, going on dates and assessing compatibility without formal commitment.
The third phase marks exclusivity, where partners identify as boyfriend or girlfriend and develop deeper emotional and physical connections. Compared to 2012, the 2022 group mentioned moving in together and integrating partners into wider social circles more often, reflecting evolving relationship norms.
The final stage involves deciding whether to commit fully or break up. This phase often includes challenges that test the future of the relationship.
Although the core stages remain steady, the study found that the 2022 students described relationships with more complexity, including conflict, cohabitation, and uncertainty about marriage.
This reflects broader social changes such as delayed marriage and more diverse relationship choices. The findings suggest that while dating apps and social media have altered some communication methods, the basic pattern of relationship development has remained essentially unchanged. Young people still follow a recognisable path from flirting to commitment or separation.
The study’s lead researcher, Brian Ogolsky, said understanding these relationship stages can help improve support and education for young adults as they navigate romance in today’s world.
The study cautioned that the results mainly reflect experiences of primarily white, heterosexual students from one university, meaning more research is needed to understand diverse and Nigerian-specific dating experiences fully.
Leave feedback about this