Maintaining Relationships on Facebook: Associations with Uncertainty, Jealousy, and Satisfaction

Abstract

Existing research suggests that social networking sites (SNSs) allow romantic partners to maintain their relationships online. This study examined how relational maintenance behaviors associated with Facebook (FB) use were predicted by satisfaction, uncertainty, and FB jealousy. A survey was conducted sampling 281 undergraduates in a romantic relationship where both partners were active users of FB. The results revealed that when partners (a) perceived mutual and definitional uncertainty in their relationship they used more FB monitoring to maintain their relationship; (b) when partners reported future and definitional certainty they used more FB assurances and openness; (c) when partners experienced FB jealousy they used more FB positivity, openness, assurances, and monitoring; and (d) when partners were satisfied they used more FB positivity and assurances.

Keywords:

• Facebook
• Jealousy
• Relational Maintenance
• Relational Uncertainty
• Relationship Satisfaction

Notes

Note. Two-tailed. FB = Facebook.

*p < .05. **p < .01. †p < .001.

Note. Wilks's Λ = .85; F(16, 813.28) = 2.77, p < .001. r _s  = structure coefficient;  = squared structure coefficient; h ² = communality coefficient. Structure coefficients (r _s ) greater than .45 are in bold. Communality coefficients (h ²) greater than 45% are in bold.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Margaret C. Stewart

Margaret C. Stewart is an Assistant Professor of Communication & Media Arts at Neumann University.

Marianne Dainton

Marianne Dainton is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at La Salle University.

Alan K. Goodboy

Alan K. Goodboy is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at West Virginia University.