Long-distance Romantic Relationships Research Articles

Examining the validity of an adaptive model of sustaining behaviors in long-distance relationships: Predicting intimacy and marital satisfaction

Long-distance romantic relationships present unique challenges, necessitating couples to employ adaptive strategies to maintain intimacy and marital satisfaction. This study aimed to examine the validity of an adaptive model of sustaining behaviors in long-distance relationships and its capacity to predict marital intimacy and satisfaction. The model included mindfulness, sexual function, religious, and online social support domains. Data were collected online from 366 couples (aged 18 to 57; Mean = 34.82, SD = 7.34; 79.8 % female) engaged in long-distance relationships. A confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the acceptable fit of the four-factor model which was also invariant across gender groups. The results indicated significant associations between sustaining behaviors and marital intimacy and satisfaction, with varying predictive power among specific components. Notably, relationship/sexual mindfulness and marital sanction/religious communication within the religion domain emerged as robust predictors. Conversely, religious practice showed a significant negative association. Additionally, the realization component of the sexual function domain significantly predicted both marital satisfaction and intimacy, while its partnership component significantly predicted only marital intimacy. None of the social support components significantly predicted marital intimacy or satisfaction. These findings are important as they highlight the nuanced interplay between sustaining behaviors and relational well-being in long-distance relationships, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions to enhance relationship quality in this context.

The experiences of individuals in maintaining a long-distance relationship through social media

This qualitative study explores the dynamics of long-distance romantic relationships (LDRRs) in the digital age. Long-distance relationships (LDRs) have emerged as a testament to the enduring strength of human affection in the face of spatial constraints. However, the dynamics of LDRs in the digital era present a diverse array of emotions, obstacles, and coping mechanisms. The purpose of this study is to understand the distinctive experiences of how social media has had a positive influence on the communication and relationship satisfaction between partners who have experienced long distance. The research, conducted through qualitative methods, involved 8 college students, predominantly females, offering insights into their experiences in current LDRs. Through semi-structured interviews with eight participants aged 18 to 24 in LDRRs, themes emerged regarding social media usage, coping strategies for emotional challenges, insecurities and communication, and the influence of family environments. The theme underscores how digital tools serve as essential resources for maintaining emotional intimacy and strengthening the relationship despite the challenges of distance. It also highlights the importance of familial support, privacy management, and individual resilience in sustaining intimate connections across geographical distances. The findings reveal that social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Instagram are integral to communication in LDRRs, with participants emphasising the importance of voice and video calls for maintaining intimacy. Coping with emotional challenges, including insecurities and feelings of disconnection, involves active communication, transparency, reassurance, and planning activities together. Family environments play a significant role in shaping communication dynamics, with participants navigating constraints on privacy and openness based on familial support or constraints. Overall, this study underscores the vital role of social media in sustaining emotional intimacy and connection in LDRRs. Understanding how individuals utilise social media and cope with challenges can inform interventions to support healthy, fulfilling relationships in the digital age.

Bridging the Distance: Effective Communication and Honesty Among College Students in Romantic Long-Distance Relationships

This study aimed to explore how college students in long-distance romantic relationships maintain honesty and effective communication. Stress is a prevalent aspect for students in such relationships, and this research aimed to provide a deeper understanding of their experiences. Data from 7 participants were collected through structured interviews, analyzed using thematic analysis, revealing key themes of visits, communication, honesty, and conflicts. Visitation depended on mutual convenience, while communication in long-distance relationships had both advantages and disadvantages. Honesty emerged as a trust-building factor, enhancing communication. Future research could delve into the impact of academic stress on long-distance relationships and include a larger sample for a comprehensive study.

Virtual home for college couple in long-distance romantic relationships

College students form a significant portion of all couples that are engaging in long-distance romantic relationships. The physical separation has made maintaining Long-Distance Romantic Relationships especially difficult for college couples. In order to provide design solutions to help college couples in Long-Distance Romantic Relationships better overcome challenges in their relationships, this paper concludes through surveys that the most pressing issue facing Long-Distance Romantic Relationships is feeling and understanding their significant other's emotions. Based on the unique offerings of Virtual Reality (VR) technologies and the limitations of existing social VR technologies, the author proposes the design solution of a virtual HOME that emphasizes co-presence, empathy promotion, and collaborative activities.

Prevalence of Sexting among Greek University Students: A Matter of Relationships?

The study examines sexting among 3,171 Greek university students in the context of different relationship types (i.e. romantic partners, friends, strangers). Participants completed an anonymous online survey, assessing sexting during the last year along with demographic and relationship status information. Sexting was a common practice among participants, with the use of mobile phones and the Messenger application to exchange sexts. Sexting was more common among males and non-heterosexuals. Participants aged 25 and above were more likely to exchange sexts with strangers than those aged between 18 and 24. Romantic partners reported exchanging sexts more often than strangers. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that non-heterosexual males in a long-distance romantic relationship were more likely to participate in sexting, and that non-heterosexual older males who have been single for the last year were more likely to exchange sexual or provocative messages with strangers. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications.

Investigating Communication in Long- Distance Romantic Relationships in the English-Speaking Caribbean Using a Mixed-Methods Approach

Interpersonal communication in long-distance romantic relationships (LDRRs) in the English-speaking Caribbean is relatively understudied. This type of romantic relationship is growing globally; however, the rate of acknowledgement, recognition and respect is lagging regionally. This bars LDRRs from ready inclusion in a more diverse social landscape. Studies on LDRR communication have gained some traction (Steele and McConney 2020a, 2020b), but overall, the Anglophone Caribbean is underrepresented in this body of LDRR research. Because of the lack of understanding surrounding how people in contemporary Caribbean society communicate in LDRRs, to learn more, we need to look at how they communicate. Discussing and understanding the communication dimension in LDRRs can lead to recommendations on how to navigate these relationships. As such, a framework of interpersonal romantic relationships was used to examine how the variables of computer-mediated communication, attachment styles, social media and emotional intelligence may contribute to LDRR communication. The objective of this study explores the behaviour of the aforementioned variables in an LDRR context, utilizing a mixed-methods approach: a deep dive into the relationships of five resilient couples via qualitative data collection of semistructured individual interviews and journaling exercises. This smaller purposive population sampling was followed by the conceptual phase two – survey development. Quantitative data obtained from the developed questionnaire were sourced from a wider LDRR audience to analyse their attachment styles and emotional intelligence. Phase four interprets the qualitative and quantitative data sets. Attachment Style Theory, Relational Dialectics Theory and Grounded Theory undergird the theoretical framework along with dialectical pluralism (Johnson 2017). The study sought to answer RQ1: How do social media and computer-mediated communication affect communication patterns in long-distance romantic relationships? RQ2: How does attachment style account for computer-mediated communication choices in these relationships? RQ3: What are the significant effects of emotional intelligence on interpersonal communication patterns in long-distance romantic relationships?

Locked down queer love: intimate queer online relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Gay couples who have been displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic had to work with communication platforms so that they could process and proceed with their relationships. Using the notion of romantic intimacy as mediated and socially processed information, interviews were analysed in order to describe twelve (12) gay couples’ enacted communication in order to approximate interpersonal romance. Results have shown that gay couples communicate affective, cognitive, and non-physical intimacies to establish commitment and mutuality. Affective intimacies include posting daily updates about daily routines, using words of affirmation through texts and app messages, and uploading short video clips. Cognitive intimacy is shown through discussions of health, social, and relationship issues. Non-physical intimacy includes viewing each other’s daily activities, dining together and engaging in online sex. Technological platforms have continued to enable relational intimacies not only to augment relationship sustenance but also to reinforce a nuanced yet global form of mobile affection. The time spent communicating with each other, coupled with the enacted intimacies, and the sense of commitment and mutuality, led to a well-spent locked down and long-distance romantic relationships.

Does The Physical Distance Between Couples Increase Trust and Overall Satisfaction? A Comparative Study Between Long-Distance Romantic Relationships and Geographically Close Relationships

Long-distance romantic relationships have been around for quite a long time and technological advancements have made it easier to survive one. But, there is still a huge difference between LDRRs and GCR (geographically close relationships) i.e the ‘visiting’ factor. Interpersonal trust is the want of being vulnerable to one’s actions and relying on them with confidence. Having said that, the lack of physical intimacy/in-person contact may play a factor in having increased interpersonal trust in their partners. Relationship satisfaction is the overall happiness and satisfaction one has in their relationship. The present study aimed to assess and compare trust and relationship satisfaction in both Long-Distance Romantic relationships and Geographically Close relationships. The study was conducted on 50 LDRR couples and 50 GCR couples. Standardized measures of Trust and Relationship satisfaction were administered on the participants. The results showed that there is a significant difference in the trust levels between both kinds of relationships. Relationship satisfaction was not significantly different but was higher in LDRR. Further research revolving around different kinds of relationships can help us get a deeper insight to getting to know about the variables and their interdependency.

The discourses surrounding long-distance romantic relationships and perceived network support: A mixed methods investigation

This multi-method investigation focuses on perceived network support and its association with well-being for people in long-distance romantic relationships (LDRRs). In Study 1, interviews with 35 individuals in LDRRs were conducted. Analysis identified a general lack of support and understanding of LDRRs from peers and explored how partners manage unsupportive discourses. Study 2 quantitatively examined perceived network support for relationships and relational partners, and the association between perceived support and relational well-being. Participants ( N = 217) in LDRRs and geographically-close romantic relationships (GCRRs) completed online surveys. Results indicated that LDRR participants reported significantly lower network support for their relationship compared to those in GCRRs, but no significant differences were found for relational well-being. Perceiving support for one’s romantic partner from one’s network was predictive of relational well-being regardless of relationship type.

Long-Distance Romantic Relationships among International Students: “My First Qualitative Research”

The purpose of this study was to seek depth information how international students maintain their relationship to stay feeling close with their romantic partners although separated by distance or live in a different country, the difficulties and the reasons they choose to remain in the long-distance relationship. Semi-structured interviewed were conducted to four international students. Five themes emerged, they are “keep in touch”, “this is my look”, “trustworthiness as foundation”, “family’s support”, and “relationship’s goal is get married”. The participants utilize many ways of communication to keep in touch well because it also becomes a difficulty for the relationship if it is not done seriously. Since many of the participants have got support from their family, it makes them more believed that this relationship would be no matter even in a long-distance relationship. Admittedly, the distance has both beneficial and negative aspects, but how the couples handle it through the communication, always trust each other and share the relationship’s goal, determined the maintenance and help to feel close in the long-distance relationship.

Attached and Apart: Attachment Styles and Self-Disclosure in Long-Distance Romantic Relationships

AbstractThe primary goal of this study was to examine attachment style effects on self-disclosure, trust, satisfaction, and uncertainty levels of individuals in long-distance romantic relationships (LDRRs) who utilise technologically mediated communication channels as a primary means of daily interaction with their romantic partners. Participants (N= 211) from 27 countries who maintained committed romantic relationships (M= 3 years) with geographical separation (M= 1042 miles,Mdn= 160 miles) were surveyed. Using structural equation modelling (SEM), 7 of the 8 hypotheses were supported, showing that attachment style and self-disclosure predict relational uncertainty, trust, and relational satisfaction. In examining the distinctions between attachment styles (i.e., secure, preoccupied, fearful-avoidant, and dismissive) three models were developed and confirmed with good fit. The implications of the study suggest how both attachment style and self-disclosure influence the overall success of LDRRs.

Beyond the Screen

Long-distance romantic relationships have become prevalent in today's globalized world. Although mainstream communication technologies have provided instant, cheap, and convenient channels for people to communicate at a distance, the emphasis of these technologies is placed on functionality as they are designed for a large variety of end users, rather than providing emotional communication which the author argues is meaningful and necessary for the individuals to maintain ties to their romantic partners who are forced to live physically apart for some reason. The author envisions that there is a gap between understanding the users' needs in research and designing technologies for them in practice. The author's PhD research has been dedicated to bridging this gap by mediating emotional communication for serious long-distance romantic relationships through unconventional artefacts. This manuscript presents an overview of the work thus far.

Serial Argument Goals, Tactics, and Outcomes in Long-Distance and Geographically Close Romantic Relationships

ABSTRACTThis article reports the results of a study investigating serial argument behaviors in geographically close (n = 268) and long-distance (n = 271) romantic relationships. We tested a process model connecting serial argument goals with the tactics used to accomplish them (i.e., integrative, distributive, avoidance) and further with the argument’s perceived resolvability and individuals’ change in their relational satisfaction due to the serial argument. Results revealed several similarities in the associations of goals and tactics, but primarily of tactics and outcomes between the two types of romantic relationships, as well as several differences, which we discuss in detail.

Constructing Shared “Space”: Meaningfulness in Long-Distance Romantic Relationship Communication Formats

Via analysis of online survey data of 262 people aged 18 to 70 in the United States who have been involved in a long-distance romantic relationship (LDR) since 2005, we investigate how paper, audio...

The use of social networking sites for relationship maintenance in long-distance and geographically close romantic relationships.

Social networking sites (SNS) play an increasingly important role in maintaining geographically close romantic relationships (GCRR). However, knowledge about SNS use in long-distance romantic relationships (LDRR) is still lacking. The present study examined the relative importance of SNS in maintaining LDRR compared to GCRR, particularly with regard to the use of SNS to express involvement (via relational maintenance behaviors) and to gauge a partner's involvement (via partner surveillance and jealousy) in the relationship. An online survey was conducted among predominantly young adult Facebook users who were in a romantic relationship (N=272). Results showed that participants who were in a LDRR reported higher levels of relational maintenance behaviors through SNS than participants who were in a GCRR. Also, as compared to participants who were in a GCRR, participants who were in a LDRR used SNS more for partner surveillance and experienced higher levels of SNS jealousy.

Relational savoring in long-distance romantic relationships

Relationship satisfaction is crucial for health and happiness. In the absence of physical contact, people in long-distance romantic relationships (LDRs) may use alternate means of maintaining relationship satisfaction, such as mentally activating feelings of closeness to their partners. This experiment examined the effects of relational savoring, relative to two control conditions, on emotion and relationship satisfaction following a laboratory-based stress task, among 533 people in an LDR. Relational savoring yielded greater positive emotion among participants, particularly those with medium to high baseline relationship satisfaction. Further, emotional state mediated the link between relational savoring and post-stressor relationship satisfaction for participants with average or higher baseline satisfaction. Savoring relational memories resulted in short-term benefits among people in LDRs with average or higher satisfaction. The promise of relational savoring as a brief intervention is discussed as well as the implications of the results for couples in LDRs.

Absence—and Mediated Communication—Makes the Heart Grow Fonder: Clarifying the Predictors of Satisfaction and Commitment in Long-Distance Friendships

This study sought to integrate research in the areas of computer-mediated communication (CMC) and long-distance (romantic and dating) relationships (LDRs). Specifically, predictions extracted from the hyperpersonal model of CMC and research on idealization in LDRs were tested. Five hundred ninety-two participants completed an online survey. Results indicated that the amount of time since individuals last communicated face to face moderates the relationship between media use frequency and satisfaction and commitment for long-distance friends. The findings provide support for hyperpersonal idealization mechanisms in some types of long-distance friendships.

Absence Makes the Communication Grow Fonder: Geographic Separation, Interpersonal Media, and Intimacy in Dating Relationships

Many people assume that it is challenging to maintain the intimacy of a long-distance (LD) relationship. However, recent research suggests that LD romantic relationships are of equal or even more trust and satisfaction than their geographically close (GC) counterparts. The present diary study tested an intimacy-enhancing process, in which LD couples (a) engage in more adaptive self-disclosures and (b) form more idealized relationship perceptions than do GC couples in the pursuit of intimacy across various interpersonal media. The results demonstrate the effects of behavioral adaptation and idealization on intimacy, and suggest that the two effects vary depending on the cue multiplicity, synchronicity, and mobility of the communication medium employed. Implications for understanding LD relating and mix-mode relating are discussed.

When distance apart: The roles of emotional-social intelligence on trust among individuals engaging in long distance relationships

We examined the role of emotional-social intelligence on trust, among couples engaging in long-termed long-distance romantic relationship (6 to 84 months), with meeting intensity between 1-12 times within a year. The results of this correlational study demonstrated that in general, individuals’ emotional intelligence predicted greater trust toward partner. However, the main component of emotional intelligence that predicted trust was not intrapersonal or interpersonal skills, but other emotional-social skills (stress management, adaptation, mood). Discussion was focused on the importance of each component of emotional-social intelligence on trust, among couples engaging in long-termed long-distance relationship.

Full-Dimensionality of Relating in Romantic Relationships

We propose that an orientation toward relating to one's romantic partner via multiple sensory channels has beneficial effects for the relationship, especially for long-distance relationships. We used Wicklund's (2004) conceptualisation of full-dimensionality of relating and Brehm's (1999) emotional intensity theory to test the effects of a sensory multidimensional orientation and difficulty of maintaining the romantic relationship on feelings of love and commitment. In Study 1, we tested 55 participants involved in a long-distance romantic relationship and found that a multidimensional orientation fended off the detrimental effects of difficulty of maintaining the relationship: when partners experienced high difficulty, those with a high orientation experienced more positive affect, love, and commitment than those with a low orientation. In Study 2, data from 31 long-distance and 23 geographically-close participants indicated that a high multidimensionality orientation had a greater positive impact in long-distance relationships than in geographically-close relationships. In Study 3, 40 long-distance participants were asked to write about two times when it was either difficult but possible or nearly impossible to maintain their current relationship. Positive affect for the partner, love, and desire to be with the partner in the future were highest for the participants in the possible condition who preferred relating to the partner on multiple sensory channels. Altogether, these studies underline the importance of multidimensional orientation in romantic relationships, especially when intimates perceive maintaining the relationship as being difficult but manageable. Theoretical and practical implications of this new concept of sensory multidimensionality orientation are discussed.