“I luv u :)!”: A Descriptive Study of the Media Use of Individuals in Romantic Relationships

Abstract

In this study, we address the communication technologies individuals within romantic relationships are using to communicate with one another, the frequency of use, and the association between the use of these technologies and couple's positive and negative communication. Participants consisted of individuals involved in a serious, committed, heterosexual relationship. The Relationship Evaluation Questionnaire instrument was used to assess a variety of relationship variables. The majority of individuals within the study frequently used cell phones and text messaging to communicate with their partner, with ''expressing affection'' being the most common reason for contact. Younger individuals reported using all forms of media (except for e-mail) more frequently than older participants. Relationship satisfaction did not predict specific use of media but predicted several reasons for media use. Additional analyses revealed that text messaging had the strongest association with individuals' positive and negative communication within their relationships. Specifically, text messaging to express affection, broach potentially confrontational subjects, and to hurt partners were associated with individuals' view of positive and negative communication within their relationship. Implications of the results are discussed.School of Family Life, Brigham Young University, JFSB 2087, Provo, UT 84602 (smcoyne@byu.edu).

Phubbing en las Relaciones Románticas: Uso del Celular, Satisfacción en la Pareja, Bienestar Psicológico y Salud Mental

“…A su vez, el no estar presente puede llevar a la pareja a experimentar bajos niveles de sa sfacción en la relación y bajos niveles de romancismo (McDaniel & Coyne, 2016;Roberts & David 2016). Existen algunos estudios que tratan el tema de la interferencia de aparatos electrónicos en las relaciones de pareja (Coyne et al, 2011;McDaniel & Coyne, 2016). La mayoría de estos estudios encontraron que el uso excesivo de la tecnología, ya sean smartphones u otros aparatos electrónicos, genera conflictos y problemas en las relaciones de pareja, afectando, consecuentemente, el bienestar y la sa sfacción de la misma.…”

“…Asimismo, otros autores asocian la presencia y/o u lización de teléfonos inteligentes con baja sa sfacción y poca cercanía/conexión con la pareja (Przybylski & Weinstein, 2013;Roberts & David, 2016). Lo preocupante de este asunto es que todos los estudios revisados indican que el phubbing y el uso de aparatos electrónicos son una prác ca común y conflic va en las relaciones de pareja (Coyne et al, 2011;Lenhart & Duggan, 2014). Basado en lo expuesto en este apartado, esperamos que nuestro estudio correlacione estadís camente el phubbing percibido por la pareja con la sa sfacción en la relación.…”

“…Los teléfonos inteligentes y el incremento de sus aplicaciones tecnológicas han permi do que la personas estén conectadas, en todo momento y lugar, a si os de información, internet y redes sociales (Organista, McAnally & Lavigne, 2013). No obstante, a pesar de las evidentes ventajas que ofrecen los smartphones, el uso de la tecnología puede generar conflictos y problemas en las relaciones román cas, afectando, consecuentemente, el bienestar y la sa sfacción de la misma (Coyne, Stockdale, Busby, Iverson & Grant, 2011;McDaniel & Coyne, 2016;Roberts & David 2016). En este contexto, donde el smartphone es la herramienta principal para manejar contenidos mul media y conectarse inalámbricamente a internet, surgen algunas interrogantes: ¿suscitará el uso del celular tantos conflictos en las relaciones román cas como para afectar la sa sfacción de la misma?, ¿el efecto adverso del uso del celular en las relaciones román cas tendrá la fuerza de afectar nega vamente el bienestar psicológico de los individuos?, y, ¿estará el uso del celular indirectamente relacionado con la salud mental de los integrantes de la pareja?…”

Can Text Messages Make People Kinder?

“…This is a plausible hypothesis considering that narcissism is associated with more frequent social media use (Carpenter, 2012;Panek, Nardis, & Konrath, 2013), and that studies have found that mobile phones can reduce people's empathy, feelings of closeness, feelings of trust, and prosocial behaviors (Abraham, Pocheptsova, & Ferraro, 2012;Przybylski & Weinstein, 2013). Yet even though mobile phones may distract people from face-to-face interactions under some circumstances, they also literally connect us to others, making us feel closer to loved ones when there is physical distance ("Always connected: How Smartphones and Social Keep Us Engaged," 2013; Coyne, Stockdale, Busby, Iverson, & Grant, 2011;Faulkner & Culwin, 2005;Padilla-Walker, Coyne, & Fraser, 2012;Pettigrew, 2009). Technologies are simply tools, and with the introduction of new technologies, there are often struggles to make sense of them and optimize their potential (Postman, 1992).…”

A qualitative meta-synthesis of young peoples' experiences of ‘sexting’

“…The role technology plays in teen sexual relationships should be part of sex education and also recognised within anti-bullying practice -both central areas of school nurse practice (Hayter et al 2012) Most young people own a device capable of sending and receiving texts and the use of such devices is one of the main vehicles of peer to peer communication. This is especially true of intimate relationships where texting is used to initiate, arrange and conduct relationships -often regarded by the users as a safe, intimate and possibly secret method of communication (Coyne et al 2011). Hand held devices help to facilitate this by not requiring time at a computer or even in the home.…”