Serial Argument Goals, Tactics, and Outcomes in Long-Distance and Geographically Close Romantic Relationships

ABSTRACT

This article reports the results of a study investigating serial argument behaviors in geographically close (n = 268) and long-distance (n = 271) romantic relationships. We tested a process model connecting serial argument goals with the tactics used to accomplish them (i.e., integrative, distributive, avoidance) and further with the argument’s perceived resolvability and individuals’ change in their relational satisfaction due to the serial argument. Results revealed several similarities in the associations of goals and tactics, but primarily of tactics and outcomes between the two types of romantic relationships, as well as several differences, which we discuss in detail.

KEYWORDS:

• Serial arguments
• serial argument process model
• long-distance romantic relationships
• serial arguments in geographically close and long-distance romantic relationships

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. One response was not included in these calculations because the reported relationship length was 1,200 months, which is unlikely.

2. The difference between two path coefficients was tested by constraining the path of interest to be equal across the two groups and then comparing this model with the initial SEM model. A significant chi-square difference between the two models indicated that the path in question differed significantly across the two groups.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Department of Communication, University of Oklahoma.