Publication Date

2014

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Department

School for Social Work

Keywords

Text messaging (Cell phone systems), Text messaging (Cell phone systems)-Psychological aspects, Couples, Interpersonal communication, Text, Texting, Short message service (SMS), Cellular phone, Mobile phone, Mobiles, Romantic relationships

Abstract

The availability and affordability of mobile phones has increased dramatically in the last decade and continues to increase. Short-message service (texting), a popular feature of the mobile phone, has become a widely accepted phenomenon in today's society, and is beginning to dominate the landscape of interpersonal communication, used as a primary medium in romantic and sexual correspondence. There is minimal academic research focusing on the effects of texting on communication and social behavior within romantic relationships; research is lacking with regard to how mobile phone communication changes throughout the romantic relationships. The current study explores how texting practices are related to committed romantic relationships. Individuals in committed romantic relationships (N =73) were recruited through snowball sampling and completed an online survey about their texting use as it relates to their romantic relationship. Results suggest that text messaging influences social behavior within romantic relationships; there are both positive and negative aspects of texting use within committed romantic partnerships. Results confirm there are gender differences in texting uses and preferences, while the use of texting to manage anxiety within relationships varies with respect to age and commitment level of the relationship.

Language

English

Comments

iv, 128 pages. Thesis (M.S.W.)-Smith College School for Social Work, 2014. Includes bibliographical references (pages 105-113)

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