Romantic Relationships Research Articles

Beyond likes: the persuasive potential of romantic parasocial relationships with influencers

While existing studies emphasize the crucial role of amicable parasocial relationships in influencing the audience, research on the persuasive potential of romantic parasocial relationships with influencers remains limited. These relationships, characterized by a blend of physical and emotional love, are believed to be particularly intense. Therefore, we aim to investigate the persuasive impact of romantic potential with influencers, which may lead to the development of romantic parasocial relationships. Specifically, we analyze the influence of romantic potential (no romantic potential vs. romantic potential) and its interaction with follower status (follower vs. non-follower) on romantic parasocial relationships, evaluative persuasion knowledge, and subsequently purchase intention. Conducted among German social media users (N = 220), our experiment revealed no significant main effects of romantic potential on evaluative persuasion knowledge and purchase intentions. However, we found a significant indirect effect of romantic potential on the dependent variables mediated by emotional love but not physical love. Additionally, a significant interaction effect revealed that while the formation of the physical dimension in romantic parasocial relationships occurs relatively quickly, emotional affection requires a longer period to develop. This study significantly contributes to our understanding of persuasive dynamics in influencer marketing and opens avenues for further research.

“I’m Spoon-Feeding Him My Trauma”: An Analysis of Sexual Assault Survivors’ Ongoing Privacy Management in Romantic Relationships

ABSTRACT For survivors of sexual assault, navigating privacy boundaries can be challenging. Communication privacy management theory posits privacy and disclosure as a dialectical tension. As boundaries are negotiated, breached, and renegotiated, people are faced with examining the roles ownership, control, and turbulence play when regulating their private information, particularly around the highly sensitive topic of sexual assault in a romantic relationship where the relational risk is high. Through qualitative, semi-structured interviews (n = 21) and a phronetic iterative approach to data analysis, we examined the ongoing privacy management of survivors of sexual assault in romantic relationships. The results of this study offer insight into the ways participants controlled their personal information through the privacy management process and the effects of incongruent privacy management on participants, their partners, and the relationship.

A Study of Factors in Women’s Choice of a Potential Partner in the Context of Internet Dating

Introduction. The study aims to investigate the factors of women’s choice of partner in an online dating situation. In the period of digitalization, many women seek to expand their opportunities to find a suitable partner through the use of online dating services. At the same time, many women have certain concerns and do not know what exactly to pay attention to when dating so that it leads to the creation of a romantic relationship. This is the first time that the question of the existence of a relationship between the factors of partner selection and the consequences of online dating is considered, which determines the novelty of the study. Its results will help to identify the most successful strategies for choosing a potential partner that lead to the establishment of long-term relationships. Objective. To identify the most common factors among women in selecting a potential partner in an Internet dating situation. Materials and Methods. A translated version of Liesel Sharabi’s questionnaire-questionnaire was used to establish the peculiarities of women’s use of dating services. Binomial criterion, Fisher’s exact test, and conjugacy test were used as methods of statistical data analysis.Results. The empirical object of the study was women aged 18 to 60 (n = 61). It was found that women are quite selective in the situation of choosing potential partners in dating services. The majority of women feel apprehension regarding the use of dating services, which is associated with the fear of not meeting a suitable partner there. At the same time, women remain convinced of the effectiveness of dating services and hope to get married through their use. The main factor in choosing a partner among women is the way he or she shows himself or herself in correspondence. At the same time, women who got married as a result of online dating also took into account such a factor as the appearance of the chosen one. Discussion. The obtained data are confirmed by the results of other authors’ studies. Thus, women’s selectivity in the situation of Internet dating is explained by the increase in their self-confidence, as well as by the desire to demonstrate themselves from the “right” side. At the same time, women’s fears seem to be quite justified, taking into account that men are much more likely to describe their desired, rather than real, characteristics in questionnaires. Women more often make a choice based on the features of correspondence, since most of the criteria important for selection are revealed in the course of communication.

Parasocial Interactions in Otome Games: Emotional Engagement and Parasocial Intimacy Among Chinese Female Players

This study conducts qualitative research on female players of otome games, exploring the mechanisms of romantic relationship formation within these games and their impact on perceptions of real-life intimate relationships. The findings reveal that the parasocial romantic relationships formed in otome games are not entirely detached from reality; instead, they are embedded in daily life through game interaction mechanisms and the players’ internalized imagination, thereby influencing the reconstruction of real-life intimate relationships. Female players show a high degree of acceptance and immersion in these romantic relationships, focusing on the emotional support provided by male characters. These relationships play a positive role in fulfilling emotional needs, regulating negative emotions, constructing self-identity, and redefining perceptions of intimacy. The intangibility of physical contact remains the only significant shortcoming, as perceived by a minority of players, pointing to a primary direction for the future development of otome games.

The delusion of the disappearing self? Attachment avoidance and the experience of externally invisible self-loss in romantic relationships.

The delusion of the disappearing self? Attachment avoidance and the experience of externally invisible self-loss in romantic relationships.

Validation and Reliability of the Relationship Involvement Scale (RIS): An Evidence Study in Peruvian Contexts

This study investigates emotional involvement in romantic relationships through the Relationship Involvement Scale (RIS), emphasizing its validation and reliability in a Peruvian sample. Interpersonal relationship challenges underline the significance of emotional commitment for well-being. The RIS uniquely assesses this aspect, distinguishing it from love, satisfaction, and maintenance measures. Through meticulous validation involving translation and expert review, and a sample of 300 Peruvian young adults, the research confirms the RIS’s unidimensional structure and reliability. Factorial analysis refines the scale by eliminating low-loading items, while associations with relationship satisfaction validate its construct. Utilizing confirmatory factor analysis, the study highlights the positive link between involvement and satisfaction, suggesting the RIS’s utility in understanding romantic dynamics. Despite limitations like non-probabilistic sampling and limited sample size, the RIS offers valuable insights for enhancing relationship stability, marking a significant advancement in the study of romantic involvement in Peru.

Losing a parent during childhood: The impact on adult romantic relationships

Losing a parent during childhood: The impact on adult romantic relationships

“We’re Just Talking”: Constructing a Recent Trend in Emerging Adult Romantic Relationship Development

Emerging adults’ relationship development is an increasingly multi-faceted process characterized by ambiguity. Just talking has emerged as a phrase to characterize early relationship formation in popular culture, yet it remains understudied in the empirical literature. Constructivist grounded theory was used to explore this phenomenon in modern romantic relationship formation employing nine focus groups (N = 52) of emerging adult men and women from two large Midwestern universities. Eleven unique themes were generated to identify how emerging adult men and women conceptualize just talking (pre-dating, ambiguity about commitment, unofficial romantic label), reasons for just talking (pressure to keep options open, protection from rejection, testing the waters, avoiding defining the relationship), and how technology may facilitate the just talking process (increases the pool of potential partners, comfortable frequent contact, image crafting, less effort required). The findings have substantial implications for educators, clinicians, and other professionals who work with emerging adults.

To Break or Not to Break?: Understanding the Motivations and Consequences of Taking Breaks in Romantic Relationships

Studies have been performed on how individuals experience romantic breakups and consequences of breakups, but there is a gap regarding temporary breakups, referred to as “taking a break.” Therefore, the goal of this study is to examine how and why individuals take breaks (i.e., temporary breakups) in romantic relationships and the consequences of doing so. This qualitative study involved participants (N = 69; 81.6% female) completing individual interviews. Two primary investigators conducted reflexive thematic analyses following Braun & Clarke’s (2002) six step approach. There were four themes for how people take breaks, including communication with partner during the break, whether or not they discussed boundaries, interpersonal behaviors, and whether the decision was mutual. People took breaks due to time issues, stress, issues with partner, interpersonal reasons, relationship issues, and a desire to breakup. Participants reported positive and negative changes as a result of the temporary breakup, while also determining if they should stay together. Results reveal similarities to breakup experiences, but are different due to the hope of improving the relationship after the break.

Coming Out Queer: Sexual and Romantic Exploration and Identity Development of LGBQ+ College Students

LGBQ+ youth from conservative Christian families and/or communities face challenges developing positive understandings of their sexualities. Many view college as a more welcoming space that will allow them to conceptualize and enact their sexual identities in new and beneficial ways. Yet college campuses may support some aspects of LGBQ+ identity development at the expense of others. Through interviews with 26 LGBQ+ students from conservative Christian backgrounds, we show that the transition to college served as an opportunity to access supportive spaces that encouraged exploration and self-development and affirmed LGBQ+ identities, increasing self-esteem and well-being. However, many students still struggled to access sexual and romantic relationships, limiting opportunities to learn about themselves and their emerging desires. Our findings demonstrate how the interplay between communities of origin and destination conditions shape identity development in emerging adulthood and make clear the importance of sexual and romantic exploration to this process.

A longitudinal test of relational turbulence theory and serial arguments in romantic relationships

Abstract Relational turbulence theory (RTT) suggests that people perceive their romantic relationships as turbulent when they experience interactions that manifest the deleterious effects of relational uncertainty and altered patterns of interdependence. RTT also positions communication in these episodes as associated with subsequent relational uncertainty and qualities of interdependence. Using three-wave panel data collected at three-week intervals, this study evaluates (a) how communication in serial argument episodes predict relationship parameters (i.e., relational uncertainty and qualities of interdependence), (b) how relationship parameters predict serial argument occurrence, directness, and valence, and (c) whether over time variability in qualities of serial argument communication predict subsequent relational turbulence. Results indicated limited support for reciprocal, between-wave associations between relationship qualities and serial argument communication; however, over time variability in the valence of serial argument communication was associated with higher levels of relational turbulence after 6 weeks. Implications for RTT and research on serial arguments are discussed.

Sex and Women in the Archive and New Imaginaries of Female Same-Sex Relations in the Late Nineteenth Century

The article aims to contribute to queer histories of marginalised people and those who have left behind limited traces. It analyses medical sources informing about female same-sex relations among poor and marginalised women in Copenhagen, Denmark, during the late nineteenth century. The medical sources repeatedly mention how women in prostitution engaged in sexual and romantic relations with one other. The article provides examples of how female same-sex relations were described as passionate and dramatic, as well as violent, and proposes an expanded notion of female same-sex relations to accommodate “grim” stories of intimate partner violence and death. Furthermore, the medical reports associated women’s relations with carnal sex, . Finally, the article suggests that it might not have been the gender of a woman’s same-sex partner but rather the woman’s sexual activity, that caused condemnation. As the medical sources are confined to inform about women’s encounters with power authorities, such as doctors and police, I employ “imaginary scenarios” (Hartman 2021) to be able to represent the same-sex relations in a more profound way.

The Power to Flirt: Power within Romantic Relationships and Its Contribution to Expressions of Extradyadic Desire.

Power in non-romantic contexts makes people confident in their ability to attract potential partners, increasing their mating motivation and the likelihood of acting on this motivation. Four studies investigated whether perceptions of power within romantic relationships would also activate mating goals, intensifying desires for alternative partners. In Studies 1 and 2, participants underwent power manipulation and then described a sexual fantasy or evaluated photos of attractive strangers. Studies 3 and 4 used face-to-face interaction and daily experiences methods to examine the mechanisms underlying the link between power and extradyadic desires. Overall, high perceived relationship power was associated with increased interest in alternatives. Perceived relative mate value explained this association, suggesting that what determines whether power elicits extradyadic interest is not power perceptions alone but rather the feeling of having a higher mate value than one's partner that accompanies elevated power and affects whether high-power individuals will prioritize their own needs in ways that may hurt their partners.

Financial strain among West-Javanese parents: its association with marital satisfaction and quality of life, and the role of dyadic coping.

In the past decade, the concept of dyadic coping as a buffer against stress in romantic relationships has received much attention in Western countries, but it has rarely been studied in non-Western countries and among parents with school-aged children. The aim of the present study was to investigate the moderating effect of dyadic coping on the link between financial strain and marital satisfaction, as well as the mediating effect of marital satisfaction on the relationship between financial strain and quality of life. There were 751 heterosexual couples whose eldest child aged 7-12 years in West Java, Indonesia (mean age husband = 37.53 SD = 5.09; mean age wife = 34.42 SD = 4.85) fulfilled the paper and pencil questionnaires in the study. The moderated mediated model illustrated that (1) greater levels of dyadic coping weakened the negative association between financial strain and marital satisfaction for husbands and for wives (2) for both husbands and wives, there were no mediation effect (3) for both husbands and wives, financial strain was negatively associated with quality of life; and marital satisfaction was positively associated with quality of life. We discuss both the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.

Supplemental Material for The Delusion of the Disappearing Self? Attachment Avoidance and the Experience of Externally Invisible Self-Loss in Romantic Relationships

Supplemental Material for The Delusion of the Disappearing Self? Attachment Avoidance and the Experience of Externally Invisible Self-Loss in Romantic Relationships

Marriage migration, intimacy and genre in Helen Hoang’s The Bride Test (2019) and Brigitte Bautista’s You, Me, U.S. (2019)

A significant strand of cultural and social studies research on late modernity has focused on intimacies; in particular, ‘mediated intimacies’ (Attwood et al., 2017; Barker et al., 2018; Gill, 2009), exploring how the media, in its various forms, represents and affects intimate relationships. Romance fiction, the most popular global genre, offers a key source text for exploring intimate and romantic relationships and the ways culturally and politically specific forms of intimacy are shared transnationally. Of particular interest is the increase in the twenty-first century of romantic stories that deal with the intersection of intimacy and migration. This article brings together critical work on intimacy and affect, scholarship on popular romance, and research on migration and transcultural exchange to explore how contemporary Anglophone popular romance fiction mediates intimate relationships in the context of migration. Focusing on two romance novels featuring South East Asian migration to the USA — Brigitte Bautista’s You, Me, U.S. (2019) and Helen Hoang’s The Bride Test (2019) — I explore how these novels represent marriage migration and its relationship to and impact on intimacy. Both novels are aware of existing stigmas around marriage migration (the risk of abuse or fraudulent marriage), but the association of marriage with ‘authentic’ romantic love in the romance genre ultimately serves to uphold such stigmas, rather than challenge them. The texts pay equally close attention to the performativity of romantic love, noting how heteronormative, western norms of romance are required for migrants but, in the case of You, Me, U.S., can also be queered. These texts are concerned with the movement of people and cultures while themselves travelling across borders as products of a transnational, global publishing market. These fictions, then, showcase how their particular articulations of intimacy offer new insights for scholars interested in marriage migration.

It's not all that bad: associations among pain characteristics and sexual well-being in people living with chronic pain.

Individuals experiencing chronic pain often report adverse effects on their sexual functioning. However, other important aspects of sexual well-being (SWB), such as sexual distress and sexual self-esteem, have received little attention. This is an important omission because a SWB involves more than just good sexual function. Similarly, past research has not examined how chronic pain characteristics affect the different aspects of SWB. The goal of this cross-sectional study was to examine the SWB of individuals living with chronic pain and to examine the extent to which SWB is associated with different chronic pain characteristics. A total of 310 individuals (28.1% men, 70.6% women, 1.3% transgender men) with ages between 21 and 50 (M = 31.96, SD = 6.13) who were in a romantic relationship and with self-reported chronic pain for three months or longer completed an online survey. The following indicators of SWB were included in the study: frequency of genital sexual activity, sexual satisfaction, sexual self-esteem, sexual desire, sexual function, genital pain, and sexual distress. The results show that most individuals with chronic pain maintain an active and satisfying sexual life and feel positive about themselves as a sexual partner. Slightly more than a fourth reported experiencing at least one sexual functioning difficulty and almost three-fourths of them found those difficulties sexually distressing. A first canonical correlation showed that more negative pain characteristics were associated with poorer SWB. The second canonical correlation showed that greater perceived partner support can offset the negative relationship between pain and some aspects of SWB. These findings show that individuals living with chronic pain can experience positive SWB. Furthermore, the buffering effect of partner support suggests it is important to involve romantic partners in interventions aimed at improving the SWB of people living with chronic pain. The study examined a large number of indicators of SWB using a sample of individuals with different types of chronic pain. Limitations include potential self-selection bias and a sample that was predominantly white and highly educated. The results paint a more positive picture of the SWB of individuals living with pain and show that individuals living with chronic pain can experience positive SWB. These findings can help for researchers, educators, and clinicians about how to conceptualize, understand, and improve the SWB of individuals living with chronic pain.

Prevalence and Correlates of Dating Violence Victimization Among a U.S.-Based Sample of Autistic Youth.

Dating violence victimization is a pervasive public health problem that affects individuals of all age groups, but it holds particular significance during adolescence due to the potential long-term consequences on an individual's physical and psychological well-being, and potential influence on the health of adult relationships. Although there is now ample research on the topic of adolescent dating violence prevalence, risk factors, and consequences, to our knowledge, only four studies have assessed dating violence victimization among autistic youth. The current study was designed to investigate the prevalence of, and risk markers for, dating violence victimization among autistic youth. Specifically, the study had two aims: (a) to estimate the prevalence of dating violence victimization among autistic youth in a U.S.-based sample and (b) to identify correlates of dating violence for autistic youth, which include sociodemographic, mental health, and alcohol-related variables. We found that among participants who were in a romantic relationship in the past year, autistic participants were not any less likely to experience dating violence victimization compared to their non-autistic counterparts (40.7% for autistic youth vs. 38.0% for non-autistic youth). In addition, findings from the current study demonstrate the significant relationships between dating violence victimization and consequences of alcohol use, loneliness, and anxiety among autistic youth. Existing studies, in addition to the results of the current study, suggest the need for tailored dating violence prevention, support, and intervention to support the overall well-being of autistic youth.

Effects of body image concerns on college students’ heterosexual interaction anxiety: A moderated mediating model

ABSTRACT College students are at a critical stage of exploring identity and romantic relationships, where they become more sensitive to their appearance, shape, and posture, and are more likely to be dissatisfied with perceived flaws or deficiencies in their body image, i.e. body image concerns. However, little is known about how body image concerns among college students may affect them to engage in healthy Heterosexual interpersonal activities or further cultivate intimate relationships. This study investigated the mediating role of body esteem and the moderating effect of gender in the relationship between body image concerns and heterosexual interaction anxiety. Based on a field survey of 838 college students, the results showed that: (1) body image concerns positively predicted college students’ heterosexual interaction anxiety; (2) body esteem played a partial mediating role between body image concerns and heterosexual interaction anxiety; and (3) gender moderated the association between body esteem and body esteem. Compared with males, the effect of body image concerns on body esteem among females was stronger. These findings explained the generation of heterosexual interaction anxiety and provided theoretical guidance for prevention and interventions.

“Baby it’s Cold Online”: A Qualitative Investigation About What is and is not Appropriate to do on social media in Romantic Relationships

“Baby it’s Cold Online”: A Qualitative Investigation About What is and is not Appropriate to do on social media in Romantic Relationships