Maintaining long-distance relationships: comparison to geographically close relationships

Abstract

As more and more people are in long-distance relationships (LDRs), a growing body of literature has emerged investigating how these individuals maintain their relationships in the face of geographical separation. We extended this literature by comparing North American individuals in LDRs (n = 232) and in geographically close relationships (n = 236) in terms of eight relationship maintenance behaviors and nine sexual maintenance behaviors (all positive behaviors). A multivariate analysis of variance showed that individuals in LDRs reported more frequent behaviors to maintain a connection while separated, online sexual activity together, and sexual activity when together as well as less frequent sexual fantasizing about non-partners. Although we found gender differences in the maintenance behaviors consistent with traditional gender roles, these differences were not moderated by relationship type. These results suggest that an increase in introspective behaviors may be important to maintaining LDRs both romantically and sexually, but that sexual frequency is also important for maintaining LDRs and may not be easily replaced by online sexual activities.

Keywords:

• Long-distance relationships
• relationship maintenance
• sexuality
• gender differences

Notes

1 Detailed results of the factor analysis are available from the authors by request.