Together yet Apart: Using Video Mediated Technology to Stay Connected in Long-Distance Relationships
Year: 2016
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study examined the use of video-mediated communication (VMC) among individuals in romantic relationship, specifically looking at VCM use in long-distance relationships (LDR) compared to geographically close relationship (GCR). Participants were recruited from two first year classes at a university in southwestern Ontario. Three-hundred and ninety-six participants completed the survey online. Long-distance participants were more likely to use video chat/webcam than GC participants and individuals that reported more communication with their partner also reported higher levels of relationship satisfaction, intimacy, and self-disclosure and lower levels of relational uncertainty and conflict avoidance. Lastly, high and low VMC users did not differ on the relationship quality measures; however, when broken down by LDR or GCR, high and low VMC users differed on communication, emotional and sexual intimacy, but only for LD participants, not GC participants. These findings can be used to make recommendations for couples and therapists working with couples in LDRs.
Author: Melissa Goncalves
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2512449032