Relationship Support and Perceived Usefulness of Social Network Sites in Long-Distance Romantic Relationships

• In Event: Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder! OR Does It?: Investigating Long Distance Relationships

Abstract

Social network sites (SNS) may contribute to relationship quality via interpersonal processes within couples and via social processes that involve the broader social network. We aimed to investigate the perceived usefulness of SNS in relationship quality among individuals in long-distance romantic relationship (LDRR). We hypothesized that SNS use among individuals in LDRR is associated with access of SNS relationship support and the perceived importance of SNS on relationship quality. We also hypothesized that access of relationship support via SNS mediates the relationship between SNS use and perceived importance of SNS in relationship quality. We conducted an online survey among international students who are in LDRR (n=100). Results showed that SNS use is associated with access of instrumental, social-embeddedness, social-informational support of those in LDRR. We also found that two forms of support, social-embeddedness and social-informational, mediate the relationship between SNS use and the perceived importance of SNS in relationship quality.

Authors

• Cherrie Joy Billedo, VU University Amsterdam

• Peter Kerkhof, VU U Amsterdam

• Catrin Finkenauer, VU U Amsterdam