Equity, relational maintenance, and linguistic features of text messaging

Abstract

This study analyzed relational communication via text-messaging in both romantic relationships and close friendships. Research on relational maintenance suggests that relational equality predicts the enactment of maintenance behaviors. The findings supported the predictions of equity theory in a text-messaging context – equity predicted relational maintenance use in friendships. However, openness was inversely related to satisfaction in romantic relationships, implying that discussing the nature of the relationship via text messaging decreases relational satisfaction. Furthermore, the linguistic style of messages was associated with relational satisfaction in romantic relationships and close friendships. Use of negative emotional words hindered relational satisfaction in both romantic relationships and friendships, and use of positive emotional words was associated with increased satisfaction in friendships. These results indicate the centrality of relationally-oriented communication in text messaging, and provide further support for research highlighting the explanatory power of language use in mediated communication.