Mediated Communication and Relational Maintenance and Satisfaction in Romantic, Long-Distance Relationships

Abstract

The impact of mediated communication on interpersonal relationships in the 21st century is largely attributable to technological advances. These advances have been studied from the theoretical perspectives of computer-mediated communication (Maguire & Connaughton, 2006; Walther,1992, 1994, 1996; Walther & Parks, 2002; Wright & Webb, 2011) and other theories, such as the theory of interpersonal media choice, social presence theory, media richness theory, attachment styles theory, and social exchange theory. These theoretical perspectives have accounted for how such technological advances have contributed to the bridging of gaps over time, distance, and space in interpersonal relationships, including romantic, long-distance relationships. As more romantic relationships are less tied to geographical constraints, there is an increasing need to understand, and account for, mediated communication for purposes of relational maintenance and relational satisfaction. Relational maintenance consists of behaviors that preserve relationships (Canary & Yum, 2016; Dindia, 2003), foster trust, liking, and commitment (Canary & Staff ord, 1994), and is positively related to satisfaction (Zhuo, 2016, p. 32). Relationship satisfaction involves an interpersonal (Rusbult & Buunk, 1993), subjective (Keizer, 2014) evaluation of one’s positive feelings for a partner and the relationship. It also involves perceptions about the extent to which expectations, particularly about using cooperation and collaboration to manage confl ict in a relationship, are met (Guerrero, 2020).