Maintaining Relationship Alternatives Electronically: Positive Relationship Maintenance in Back Burner Relationships

Jayson L. Dibble Jayson Dibble (Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2008) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at Hope College. Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter (Ph.D., Kent State University, 2002) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Texas Tech University. Michelle Drouin (Ph.D., University of Oxford, 2004) is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne. The authors are grateful to Richelle Hair and Anita Morris for assisting on this project. An earlier version of this manuscript was presented at the 2015 annual meeting of the National Communication Association, Las Vegas, NV.Correspondence[email protected]

Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter Jayson Dibble (Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2008) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at Hope College. Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter (Ph.D., Kent State University, 2002) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Texas Tech University. Michelle Drouin (Ph.D., University of Oxford, 2004) is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne. The authors are grateful to Richelle Hair and Anita Morris for assisting on this project. An earlier version of this manuscript was presented at the 2015 annual meeting of the National Communication Association, Las Vegas, NV.

Michelle Drouin Jayson Dibble (Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2008) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at Hope College. Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter (Ph.D., Kent State University, 2002) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Texas Tech University. Michelle Drouin (Ph.D., University of Oxford, 2004) is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne. The authors are grateful to Richelle Hair and Anita Morris for assisting on this project. An earlier version of this manuscript was presented at the 2015 annual meeting of the National Communication Association, Las Vegas, NV.

Abstract

Back burners are desired prospective romantic/sexual partners that people communicate with to establish a future romantic or sexual relationship. We surveyed 658 college students about the extent to which they reported using various positive relationship maintenance strategies (positivity, openness, assurances) during communication with their most important back burner. Consistent with previous research, singles did not differ from those in committed romances in the number of back burners reported; however, singles and casual daters utilized the positive maintenance strategies to a greater extent than did those in committed relationships. Men reported using more assurances than did women, but the sexes did not differ on the other strategies utilized. Implications and limitations are discussed.

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Maintaining Relationship Alternatives Electronically: Positive Relationship Maintenance in Back Burner Relationships

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