Information-Communication Technology (ICT) in our Lives: the Interplay of ICT and Romantic Relationships

Pagon, Milan; Bizjak, Uroš

doi:10.2478/v10051-009-0008-z

Abstract

Relationships among different aspects of romantic relationship quality, the usage of information and communication technologies (ICT), characteristics of a relationship, demographics, and personality were examined on a sample of 407 students in the Republic of Slovenia. The findings suggest that the most important factor in determining the quality of a romantic relationship is companionship (joint activities of a romantic couple). Romantic couples who generally spent more time in joint activities also spent more time using ICT in maintaining their romantic relationship. The usage of ICT in a romantic relationship itself does not influence the quality of that relationship. The general usage of ICT, however, deteriorates the quality of the romantic relationship. Once we take into account the impact of companionship, personality variables do not provide any unique contributions to romantic relationship quality.

References

Barelds, D.P.H. & Barelds-Dijkstra, P. 2007. Love at first sight or friends first? Ties among partner personality trait similarity, relationship onset, relationship quality, and love. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 24(4): 479-496. DOI: 10.1177/0265407507079235.10.1177/0265407507079235
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar
Baxter, L.A. 1986. Gender differences in the hetero-sexual relationship rules embedded in break-up accounts. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 3(3): 289-306. DOI: 10.1177/0265407586033003.10.1177/0265407586033003
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar
Baym, N.K., Zhang, Y.B., Kunkel, A., Ledbetter, A., Lin & M.C. 2007. Relational quality and media use in interpersonal relationships. New Media & Society, 9(5): 735-752. DOI: 10.1177/1461444807080339.10.1177/1461444807080339
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar
Baym, N.K., Zhang, Y.B., Lin & M.C. 2004. Social interactions across media: interpersonal communication on the Internet, telephone and face-to-face. New Media & Society, 6(3): 299-318. DOI: 10.1177/1461444804041438.10.1177/1461444804041438
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar
Ben-Ze'ev, A. 2004. Flirting on and offline. Convergence, 10: 24-42. DOI: 10.1177/135485650401000103.10.1177/135485650401000103
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar
Boneva, B., Kraut, R. & Frohlich, D. 2001. Using e-mail for personal relationships: the difference gender makes. American Behavioral Scientist, 45(3): 530-549. DOI: 10.1177/00027640121957204.10.1177/00027640121957204
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar
Demir, M. 2007. Sweetheart, you really make me happy: romantic relationship quality and personality as predictors of happiness among emerging adults. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9(2): 257-277. DOI: 10.1007/s10902-007-9051-8.10.1007/s10902-007-9051-8
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar
Donnellan, M.B., Oswald, F.L., Baird, B.M. & Lucas, R.E. 2006. The mini-IPIP scales: tiny-yet-effective measures of the big five factors of personality. Psychological Assessment, 18(2): 192-203. DOI: 10.1037/1040-3590.18.2.192.10.1037/1040-3590.18.2.19216768595
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar
Fazio, R., 1990. Multiple processes by which attitudes guide behavior: The MODE model as an integrative framework. In M. Zanna (Ed.) Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 23: 75-109. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.10.1016/S0065-2601(08)60318-4
Search in Google Scholar
Fletcher, G.J.O., Simpson, J.A., & Thomas, G. 2000a. The measurement of perceived relationship quality components: a confirmatory factor analytic approach. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 26(3): 340-354. DOI: 10.1177/0146167200265007.10.1177/0146167200265007
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar
Fletcher, G.J.O., Simpson, J.A. & Thomas, G. 2000b. Ideals, perceptions, and evaluations in early relationship development. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79(6): 933-940. DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.79.6.933.10.1037/0022-3514.79.6.933
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar
Lawson, H.M. & Leck, K. 2006. Dynamics of Internet dating. Social Science Computer Review, 24(2): 189-208. DOI: 10.1177/0894439305283402.10.1177/0894439305283402
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar
Parks, M.R. & Roberts, L.D. 1998. ‘Making Moosic’: The development of personal relationships on-line and a comparison to their off-line counterparts. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 15(4): 517-537. DOI: 10.1177/0265407598154005.10.1177/0265407598154005
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar
Robinson, J.P., Shaver, P.R., & Wrightsman, L. 1991. Measures of Personality and Social Psychological Attitudes. San Diego: Academic Press.
Search in Google Scholar
Snyder, M. 1982. When believing means doing: Creating links between attitudes and behavior. In M. Zanna, E. Higgins, & C. Herman (Eds.) Consistency in Social Behavior: The Ontario Symposium, 2: 105-130. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Search in Google Scholar
Ward, C.C. & Tracey, T.J.G. 2004. Relation of shyness with aspects of online relationship involvement. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 21(5): 611-623. DOI: 10.1177/0265407504045890.10.1177/0265407504045890
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar
Wheeless, L.R. & Grotz, J. 1976. Conceptualization and measurement of reported self-disclosure. Human Communication Research, 2(4): 338-346. DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2958.1976.tb00494.x.10.1111/j.1468-2958.1976.tb00494.x
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar

Information-Communication Technology (ICT) in our Lives: the Interplay of ICT and Romantic Relationships

Abstract

Paradigm

My account