Going the Distance: A Quantitative Study of College Students, Communication Media and Strategic Maintenance Behaviors Used within Geographically Close Romantic Relationships and Long Distance Romantic Relationships
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Date
2012-05Author
Martens, Ashley A.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, College of Fine Arts and Communication
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Show full item recordAbstract
This thesis involved the study of communication media used within long distance and
geographically close romantic relationships. A literature review provides a thorough review of
the variables including relationship type (long distance and geographically close),
communication media (phone, text message, e-mail, social networks, instant messaging, and
video chat), satisfaction with the media, overall relational satisfaction, and strategic maintenance
behaviors (advice, assurances, conflict management, openness, positivity, sharing tasks, and
social networks) used within relationships via communication media. Although this study is
comprised of multiple research questions, the main goals of this study were to discover which
communication medium individuals in LDRs and GCRs primarily used to stay in contact with
their significant other and how these communication choices impacted the relationship.
The findings of the current study support previous research in the field of interpersonal
communication with regard to communication technology and strategic maintenance, but
challenge some areas as well. First, individuals in long distance relationships and geographically
close relationships had slightly different preferences when selecting a primary communication
media. Second, individuals in long distance relationships thought their primary communication
medium (text messaging) offered more satisfaction than individuals in geographically close
relationships. Last, individuals in long distance relationships and geographically close
relationships used different forms of communication media to strategically maintain their
relationships with their significant others.