Associations Between Social Networks and Long-Distance Relationships
Date
2006
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Haverford College. Department of Psychology
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Award
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eng
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Haverford users only
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Abstract
The purpose of this research was to integrate long-distance relationship (LDR) research with the study of social networks and social influence. We examined how college students in LDRs' reported commitment may be influenced by the behaviors and beliefs of their closest male and female friend. We sought to expand on Etcheverry and Agnew's (2004) research concerning network influence on romantic relationship commitment, as a function of normative beliefs moderated by motivation to comply with network members' beliefs. However, we used network behaviors in place of normative beliefs and examined additional factors that could moderate associations between social network behavior and LDR commitment. In Study 1, 109 college students in a psychology class provided a total of 387 supportive behaviors and 326 unsupportive behaviors that they thought they might engage in if they had a friend in an LDR. In study 2, 439 participants currently involved in LDRs took an online survey about their LDR, their closest male and female friend, and how they thought their friends' opinions related to their LDR. Participants also reported how frequently their male and female friend exhibited some of the most commonly reported behaviors from Study 1. Supportive network behavior was significantly correlated with participants' reported commitment scores (unsupportive behavior was negatively correlated with commitment). Motivation to comply moderated the relationship between network behavior and participants' LDR commitment, as predicted by previous research. Other sources of moderation were also assessed, including sex of friend and closeness of friend (mixed results), and specific relationship knowledge of friend and general relationship knowledge of friend (results as predicted; moderation increased the behavior-commitment association).