Relational Maintenance and the Influence of Commitment in Online and Offline Relationships

Abstract

The study of relational-maintenance behaviors has sometimes included the impact of medium as a peripheral variable, but rarely has the impact of medium been tested directly. Participants (N = 1336) delineated themselves into four separate groups depending on the initial and continued use of mediated communication. They reported their use of relational-maintenance behaviors, as well as feelings of commitment towards the relationship. The medium had an impact on the use of relational-maintenance behaviors, primarily between people who had only met their partners in a mediated environment and those who had met them face-to-face. However, commitment level appears to strongly moderate the relationship between group and use of maintenance behaviors.

Keywords:

• Commitment
• Computer-Mediated Communication
• Long-distance Relationships
• Relational Maintenance
• Romantic Relationships

This article is based on a portion of the author's dissertation, for which Daniel Canary and Jess Alberts advised and assisted immensely. He also wishes to thank Kory Floyd and F. Scott Christopher for their help and advice. An earlier draft of this article was presented at the 2005 Western States Communication Association Convention, San Francisco, California.

Notes

Note. D1 = Virtuals' dummy code (Virtuals = 1, Pinocchios, Cyber Emigrants, and Real Worlders = 0); D2 = Pinocchios’ dummy code (Pinocchios = 1, Virtuals, Cyber Emigrants, and Real Worlders = 0); D3 = Cyber Emigrants' dummy code (Cyber Emigrants = 1, Virtuals = 0, Pinocchios = 0, Real Worlders = 0).

∗p < .05, ∗∗p < .01, ∗∗∗p < .001.

Note. D1 = Virtuals' dummy code (Virtuals = 1, Pinocchios, Cyber Emigrants, and Real Worlders = 0); D2 = Pinocchios’ dummy code (Pinocchios = 1, Virtuals, Cyber Emigrants, and Real Worlders = 0); D3 = Cyber Emigrants' dummy code (Cyber Emigrants = 1, Virtuals = 0, Pinocchios = 0, Real Worlders = 0).

∗p < .05, ∗∗p < .01, ∗∗∗p < .001.

Note. D1 = Virtuals' dummy code (Virtuals = 1, Pinocchios, Cyber Emigrants, and Real Worlders = 0); D2 = Pinocchios' dummy code (Pinocchios = 1, Virtuals, Cyber Emigrants, and Real Worlders = 0); D3 = Cyber Emigrants' dummy code (Cyber Emigrants = 1, Virtuals = 0, Pinocchios = 0, Real Worlders = 0).

∗p < .05, ∗∗p < .01, ∗∗∗p < .001.

Note. D1 = Virtuals' dummy code (Virtuals = 1, Pinocchios, Cyber Emigrants, and Real Worlders = 0); D2 = Pinocchios’ dummy code (Pinocchios = 1, Virtuals, Cyber Emigrants, and Real Worlders = 0); D3 = Cyber Emigrants' dummy code (Cyber Emigrants = 1, Virtuals = 0, Pinocchios = 0, Real Worlders = 0).

∗p < .05, ∗∗p < .01, ∗∗∗p < .001.

Note. D1 = Virtuals' dummy code (Virtuals = 1, Pinocchios, Cyber Emigrants, and Real Worlders = 0); D2 = Pinocchios’ dummy code (Pinocchios = 1, Virtuals, Cyber Emigrants, and Real Worlders = 0); D3 = Cyber Emigrants' dummy code (Cyber Emigrants = 1, Virtuals = 0, Pinocchios = 0, Real Worlders = 0).

∗p < .05, ∗∗p < .01, ∗∗∗p < .001.

Note. D1 = Virtuals' dummy code (Virtuals = 1, Pinocchios, Cyber Emigrants, and Real Worlders = 0); D2 = Pinocchios’ dummy code (Pinocchios = 1, Virtuals, Cyber Emigrants, and Real Worlders = 0); D3 = Cyber Emigrants' dummy code (Cyber Emigrants = 1, Virtuals = 0, Pinocchios = 0, Real Worlders = 0).

∗p < .05, ∗∗p < .01, ∗∗∗p < .001.

Questionnaires were excluded from the final sample for a variety of reasons generally regarding their validity and usability, such as if a survey was only half completed (resulting from bad web connections, or other computer maladies), or had all 1s or 7s. Data collected from the same IP address more than twice were also omitted (in some cases, a couple or even roommates could use the same IP address, but use beyond that could be considered problematic).

This manuscript was accepted by the previous editor, Professor Jim L. Query.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael K. Rabby

Michael K. Rabby (Ph.D., Arizona State University) is an Assistant Professor at the University of Portland.