Journal of Communication · 2013 · 155 citations · 37 references
Social SciencesPsychologySocial PsychologyCommunication TheoryInterpersonal CommunicationInterpersonal RelationshipsCouple RelationshipsIntimacyRelationship CommunicationRelationship MaintenanceRelationship QualityRomantic RelationshipsCouple FunctioningInterpersonal DisclosureIntimacy MaintenanceLong-distance IntimacyLong-distance Relationship MaintenanceRelationship IntimacyRomantic Relationship CommunicationSelf-disclosure In Relationships
Many people assume that maintaining intimacy in long‑distance relationships is difficult. This diary study tests whether long‑distance couples can enhance intimacy by engaging in more adaptive self‑disclosures and forming more idealized relationship perceptions than geographically close couples. The study examined how long‑distance couples use adaptive self‑disclosures and idealized perceptions across various interpersonal media to pursue intimacy. Results indicate that behavioral adaptation and idealization increase intimacy, with effects varying by cue multiplicity, synchronicity, and mobility of the communication medium, underscoring implications for long‑distance and mix‑mode 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.
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