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An examination of how multiple use of social media platforms influence romantic relationships
Abstract
When in a romantic relationship, the experience of partners' use of multiple social media platforms varies from serving as a means of gratification to being a cause of discomfort in these relationships. To examine this new and expanding phenomenon, this study employed the media multiplexity theory to explore the roles of using multiple forms of social media when in a romantic relationship. Through the face-to-face, in-depth, and semistructured interviews of 25 romantic partners, the study examined romantic partners' experience of social media use and its influence on their romantic relationships. The results showed how multiplexity in social media use facilitates satisfaction , affection, jealousy, monitoring of romantic partners, infidelity, and distraction. The findings also revealed that while using social media to facilitate satisfaction in romantic relationships, if not appropriately used, the use of social media might lead to romantic dissatisfaction.
... On one hand, some behaviors on social media (e.g., public displays of affection, enhanced communication) have been associated with several positive outcomes within romantic relationships, such as higher relationship satisfaction Abbreviations: IPV, Intimate partner violence; SM, Social media. (Arikewuyo et al., 2021;Seidman et al., 2019), greater expression of affection (Arikewuyo et al., 2021;Coyne et al., 2011), and facilitated relationship maintenance, especially in long-distance relationships (Billedo et al., 2015;Hertlein & Ancheta, 2014). On the other hand, the dark side of social media has also been recognized with studies showing that it can both exacerbate existing offline conflicts and create new sources of discord within romantic relationships (e.g., Fox & Moreland, 2014). ...
... On one hand, some behaviors on social media (e.g., public displays of affection, enhanced communication) have been associated with several positive outcomes within romantic relationships, such as higher relationship satisfaction Abbreviations: IPV, Intimate partner violence; SM, Social media. (Arikewuyo et al., 2021;Seidman et al., 2019), greater expression of affection (Arikewuyo et al., 2021;Coyne et al., 2011), and facilitated relationship maintenance, especially in long-distance relationships (Billedo et al., 2015;Hertlein & Ancheta, 2014). On the other hand, the dark side of social media has also been recognized with studies showing that it can both exacerbate existing offline conflicts and create new sources of discord within romantic relationships (e.g., Fox & Moreland, 2014). ...
Social media have profoundly transformed young adults’ social interactions, especially within their romantic relationships. For instance, jealousy induced by the partner's activity on social media can cause conflicts that can escalate into controlling and aggressive behaviors. Previous cross-sectional studies show significant links between social media jealousy and intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration. However, the directionality of these associations has not yet been examined using longitudinal designs. This study investigated the associations between social media jealousy and IPV perpetration in young adults’ romantic relationships over a year. Two samples, one composed of 112 couples (n = 224) and one composed of 286 individuals involved in a romantic relationship, completed online questionnaires at two time points over one year. Results of cross-lagged panel analyses were replicated across samples and suggested that the intra-individual association between social media jealousy and IPV perpetration is bidirectional and positive over time. Results also indicated a negative association between a person’s IPV perpetration at Time 1 and their partner’s online jealousy at Time 2. These findings highlight the reciprocal and dyadic influences of social media jealousy and IPV and provide a better understanding of the potential risks associated with social media use in young adults’ romantic relationships.
... A related concern arises when one partner becomes overly preoccupied with the other's online behavior. This undue interest in a partner's online activities can breed discomfort and suspicion within the relationship (Arikewuyo et al. 2021). Moreover, misinterpretations can occur, especially when one partner reads ambiguous posts or comments made by or about the other. ...
Social media has become an integral part of modern communication, significantly impacting various aspects of daily life, including interpersonal relationships. In the Palestinian West Bank, where social and cultural norms shape marital dynamics, understanding the role of social media in husband–wife interactions is essential. This study seeks to investigate how social media influences husband–wife interactions in Palestine. Specifically, it aims to address the following questions: How do Palestinian couples perceive the impact of social media on their marital relationships? Are there any gender differences in these perceptions? How do demographic factors such as location, duration of marriage, career status, and education influence the usage patterns of social media and the perceptions of its impact on marital relationships among Palestinian couples? A survey was conducted among 388 Palestinian couples in the West Bank of Palestine in April 2023. The survey instrument collected data on participants’ demographics, social media usage patterns, and perceptions regarding the influence of social media on marital dynamics. Statistical analysis, including descriptive statistics and inferential tests, was employed to analyze the data and draw meaningful conclusions. Gender differences were observed in the perceptions of social media’s impact on marital relationships, with women generally holding more optimistic views. Additionally, participants from rural areas tended to exhibit a more positive outlook, reflecting the influence of prevailing social norms. Social media was predominantly integrated into early-stage partnerships, primarily fulfilling connectivity and communication needs. Furthermore, demographic factors such as the duration of marriage, career status, and level of education were found to influence individuals’ social media usage patterns. The study promoted conscious usage as a cornerstone of successful relationships because it acknowledges the complex balance between benefits and costs in marital relationships affected by social media. It highlights the need for intentional digital engagement and transparent communication strategies among Palestinian couples.
... The study established a correlation between social media use and feeling of suspicion, jealousy, loneliness, and emotional distance that affected the health of romantic relationships. The implication is that couples become uncomforwith their spouse's SNS activities and curious about their partner's online habits, damaging their partners' marital relationships (Arikewuyo et al., 2021). Profoundly, couples who experience much anxiety are most likely to engage in interpersonal electronic surveillance (IES) because of their high level of uncertainty (Felmlee, 2001). ...
The proliferation of social media has served as an extension of the social life of people; information seeking, socialization, and many other social needs. The study uses a sequential mixed method (quantitative and qualitative design) to examine the effects of social media dependency on marital relationships in northern Ghana. Results revealed a high dependency on social media in Ghana with serious ramifications on romantic relationships. Thus, frequent online engagement has heightened partner monitoring, suspicion, jealousy, and mistrust between couples, affecting long-term relationships’ well-being. Couples define standards/regulatory mechanisms to constrain their SNS engagement to minimize the associated effects of social media
... The study established a correlation between social media use and feeling of suspicion, jealousy, loneliness, and emotional distance that affected the health of romantic relationships. The implication is that couples become uncomforwith their spouse's SNS activities and curious about their partner's online habits, damaging their partners' marital relationships (Arikewuyo et al., 2021). Profoundly, couples who experience much anxiety are most likely to engage in interpersonal electronic surveillance (IES) because of their high level of uncertainty (Felmlee, 2001). ...
The proliferation of social media has served as an extension of the social life of people; information seeking, socialization, and many other social needs. The study uses a sequential mixed method (quantitative and qualitative design) to examine the effects of social media dependency on marital relationships in northern Ghana. Results revealed a high dependency on social media in Ghana with serious ramifications on romantic relationships. Thus, frequent online engagement has heightened partner monitoring, suspicion, jealousy, and mistrust between couples, affecting long-term relationships’ well-being. Couples define standards/regulatory mechanisms to constrain their SNS engagement to minimize the associated effects of social media.
... Scholarship on social media ecosystems has demonstrated how individuals rely on multiple social and communication platforms to create separate places for different kinds of communications (e.g., [4,33]), to express their relationships in more personal ways (e.g., [21]), and to present their identities to multiple audiences (e.g., [12,34]). We extend these considerations from social media ecosystem scholarship to explore how online gaming groups and communities can make use of-and exist across-multiple spaces and platforms, often with fuzzy boundaries between each space. ...
The platforms that host online gaming groups and communities continue to evolve, and it has become possible to join, participate in, and consume content from groups that exist across multiple tools, platforms, and spaces at the same time. In this paper, we explore how groups use and rely upon assemblages of multiple online spaces to accomplish the "work" of participating in these gaming groups. We present an interview study with users of the100.io, a platform that hosts gaming community spaces, helps players find groups, and operates as a gaming event scheduling tool for its users. Contrary to our initial assumptions, we found that users relied upon the100 as a kind of glue for flexibly-interconnected, multi-space group configurations. These multi-space groups support our participants' desires to approach online gaming as a social practice, provide additional accountability among players, and enable multiple forms of social participation within those communities. Our findings point towards opportunities to expand social computing scholarship to better describe how users of online communities flexibly bridge across technical infrastructure.
Background
Romantic breakups can significantly impact the psychological well-being of young adults, affecting emotional, physical, and social domains. This study examines the roles of rumination and coping strategies in shaping adjustment to breakup-related distress, specifically focusing on Italian adolescents and young adults.
Methods
A sample of 560 participants aged 17 to 22 who had recently experienced a romantic breakup completed questionnaires assessing rumination, coping strategies, and perceived impacts on life domains such as academic performance, family relationships, physical health, and emotional well-being. Correlation, regression, and mediation analyses were conducted to explore the relationships between rumination, coping strategies, and adjustment outcomes.
Results
Rumination emerged as a significant predictor of negative outcomes in academic performance and physical health. Avoidance coping mediated the relationship between rumination and emotional well-being, suggesting that individuals who ruminate are more likely to adopt avoidance strategies, leading to greater emotional distress. Conversely, adaptive strategies like Positive Attitude and Problem Solving were associated with better adjustment, predicting improved academic performance and healthier family relationships.
Conclusions
The findings underscore the importance of addressing rumination and avoidance coping in interventions aimed at supporting young adults post-breakup. Encouraging adaptive coping strategies, such as Positive Attitude and Problem Solving, could enhance resilience and mitigate the negative effects of relationship dissolution. This study contributes to a better understanding of coping processes in a culturally specific context, highlighting potential avenues for fostering resilience in youth facing emotional challenges.
Technology advances lead to a high prevalence of cyber dating abuse among youth. Previous studies had demonstrated its detrimental outcomes and predictors, but neglected the characters in Eastern countries. Therefore, exploring the comprehensive mechanisms of cyber dating abuse in different cultures and mitigating it are necessary. The current study first recruited 242 participants (65.7% women, Mage = 20.79 years, SD = 1.89) through social media to revise a localized Cyber Dating Abuse Questionnaire. Then, we conducted a moderated mediation model with 300 participants (60.0% women, Mage = 20.92 years, SD = 1.86) recruited through snowball sampling to examine the utilities of anxious attachment, jealousy, and dispositional mindfulness on cyber dating abuse perpetration. The two samples were integrated to examine the prevalence of cyber dating abuse, including 542 Chinese college students who were in heterosexual relationships the past year. The results showed that both perpetrators and victims of cyber dating abuse were 48.5% respectively. Women reported more perpetration behaviors (men = 40.9%; women = 53.1%) and less victimization (men = 56.2%; women = 44.0%) than men. Jealousy mediated the association between anxious attachment and cyber dating abuse perpetration. Moreover, dispositional mindfulness, particularly its non-judgment facet, could be a protective factor. These findings underscored the commonalities and expanded theories in understanding cyber dating abuse, facilitating the development of preventive and interventive strategies. Future studies should focus on this phenomenon and provide more comprehensive protection and psychosocial education for youth and adolescents.
Romantik ilişkiler, insanların duygusal bağlar kurduğu, sevgi, sadakat ve güven gibi temel unsurların hüküm sürdüğü önemli bir sosyal bağlamdır. Ancak, romantik ilişkilerde gerek bireysel gerekse çevresel faktörlerden kaynaklı çok çeşitli sorunlar yaşanabilmektedir. Romantik ilişkilerde karşılaşılan bu zorluklardan biri de aldatma fenomenidir. Aldatma, bir partnerin güvenini ihlal ederek, cinsel, duygusal veya sanal boyutlarda başka bir kişiyle ilişkiye girmesi veya bağlantı kurması durumunu ifade etmektedir. Bu tür bir davranış, çiftler arasında aksi kararlaştırılmamışsa, başka bir ifadeyle açık ilişki yaşama kararı verilmemişse, ihanet, sadakatsizlik ve aldatma olarak nitelendirilmekte; ilişkilerde derin yaralar açabilmekte ve ilişkinin sonlanmasına varacak düzeyde ciddi sonuçlara neden olabilmektedir. Romantik ilişkilerde aldatma konusunu anlamak, incelemek ve kesin bir sonuca varmak oldukça zordur. Çünkü süreç, çok boyutlu değişkenlerin olduğu farklı bağlamlarda, farklı algı ve motivasyonlarla yapılanmakta, sürdürülmekte, değerlendirilmekte ve sonuçlandırılmaktadır. Partnerlerin bireysel özellikleri, aldatma algıları, davranış niyeti, biçimi ve sonucu, davranışın tekrarlanma sıklığı gibi unsurlar aldatma konusunun hassas ve girift yapısını göstermektedir. Aldatma, tarih boyunca var olan ve günümüzde de hala devam eden evliliklerin ve romantik ilişkilerin önemli bir sorunudur. Teknolojik gelişmelerin, dijital iletişim araçlarının yaygınlaşmasının ve sosyal medyanın etkisiyle, tüm ilişki biçimlerinde olduğu gibi, aldatma davranışları da yeni boyutlar kazanmıştır. Aldatma davranışındaki bu değişim, çiftlerin ilişki biçimlerini etkilediği gibi, ilişkilerin sonlanması sürecinde tarafların birbirleri üzerinde yasal hak taleplerinde bulunma ve bunları elde etme durumlarını da etkilemiştir. Öyle ki, artık aile mahkemelerinde görülen boşanma davalarındaki aldatma konuları daha gizli bir içerikte seyreden ve yasaların aldatma tanımını zorlayan nitelikte bir yapıya büründüğünden karar vericilerin yasaları yorumlamalarına yeni bir boyut eklemelerini gerekli kılmaktadır. Özellikle güncel bir kavram olarak mikro aldatma, bu alanda yeni tartışmaların yapılması gerektiğini göstermektedir. Çağlar boyunca ele alınan aldatma olgusunun hangi bağlamlarda hangi davranışları kapsadığı konusunda genel-geçer bilgilere ulaşmak mümkündür. Bu anlamda cinsel/fiziksel aldatma, duygusal aldatma ve sanal aldatmadan bahsetmek mümkündür. Klasik aldatma tanımı dahilinde değerlendirilebilecek bu davranışların dışında kalan davranışlar ise tartışmalı bir noktada yer almakta ve kategorize edilmeleri kadar tanımlanmaları da güç olabilmektedir. Bu noktada mikro aldatma kavramı ön plana çıkmaktadır. Flörtöz mesajlaşmalar, gizli iletişim veya sosyal medya beğenileri ve yorumları aracılığıyla başka kişilerle kurulan flörtöz etkileşimler gibi küçük ölçekli, dolaylı veya gizli sadakatsizlik eylemlerini içeren mikro aldatma, çok yeni bir kavramdır. Keşfedildikten hemen sonra tam teşekküllü bir sadakatsizlik davranışı olarak tanımlanamayan ancak içeriği itibariyle ilişkiye zarar veren ve aldatmaya evrilebilecek potansiyel güven ihlali içeren davranışları kapsamaktadır. Konuya dair alan yazında yer verilen bilimsel makale sayısı şu an için son derece azdır. Yeni yeni tartışılmaya başlanan mikro aldatmanın tanımı ve içeriğine dair bilgilerin çoğunlukla gazete röportajlarında ya da sağlığa dair internet sayfalarında ele alındığı görülmektedir. Bu makale, romantik ilişkilerde aldatma konusunu daha derinlemesine incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Amacımız, aldatmanın türleri, yaygınlığı, nedenleri ve sonuçları hakkında genel bir anlayış sunmak ve özelde mikro aldatmanın romantik ilişkiler üzerindeki yeri ve etkilerini değerlendirmektir. Bu bağlamda çalışmanın amacı, aldatma konusunda bilgi ve farkındalığı arttırmak ve gelecekteki araştırmalar için bir temel sağlamaktır.
Sosyal medya platformlarının yaygınlaşması, insan ilişkilerinin birçok yönünün bu dijital platformlar üzerinden yürütülmesine yol açmıştır. Romantik ilişkiler de bu değişimden etkilenen alanlardan biridir. Sosyal medya, flört aşamasındaki çiftlerin birbirleriyle iletişimini kolaylaştırırken; duygusal ilişkileri pekiştirmek, beslemek ve özel anları diğer kullanıcılarla da paylaşarak kutlamak gibi etkileşimleri de sağlamaktadır. Mobil uygulamalar ve mesajlaşma platformları sayesinde çiftler, fiziksel mesafelere rağmen kesintisiz iletişim kurabilmekte ve günlük yaşantılarını paylaşabilmektedir. Diğer taraftan; sosyal medya üzerinden kurulan iletişimin kıskançlık, güven sorunları ve partneri kontrol etme eğilimi gibi problemlere yol açarak romantik ilişkiler üzerinde olumsuz etkileri olduğu da gözlemlenmektedir. Bu kapsamda çalışmada romantik ilişkilerde sosyal medya kullanımının irdelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu nitel çalışmada Türkiye’de sosyal medya kullanan 18 yaş üstü kadın ve erkek toplam 16 kişiyle derinlemesine görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular kod ve kategoriler aracılığı ile analiz edilmiştir. Yapılan analizler sonucu partnerlerin sosyal medya kullanımlarına ilişkin düşünceleri etkileşim, takipleşme vb. yönlerden ele alan dokuz farklı kategoriye ulaşılmıştır. Sonuçlar sosyal medya kullanımının romantik ilişkileri, kıskançlık, ihmal, gözetim gibi farklı açılardan etkileyen bir faktör olduğunu ve ilişkinin ciddiyet düzeyini dair bir gösterge olarak algılanabildiğini göstermiştir. Türkiye'deki benzer çalışmaların az sayıda olduğu ve genellikle sosyal medya bağımlılığıyla ilişkilendirildiği göz önüne alındığında; bu araştırmanın sosyal medyanın romantik ilişkiler üzerindeki etkisini daha kapsamlı bir şekilde ele alarak alana katkı sağlaması beklenmektedir.
Onlarca yıldır araştırmalar yüz yüze arkadaşlıkların temel özelliklerini ve niteliklerini keşfetmeye odaklanmış olsa da, günümüzde pek çok arkadaşlık çevrimiçi olarak da gerçekleşmektedir. Bu nedenle çevrimiçi arkadaşlığın ergenler üzerindeki psikolojik etkilerinin neler olduğu ve ergenlerin neden çevrimiçi arkadaşlığa yöneldiği soruları giderek önem kazanmakta olup, bu soruların cevapları ergenlerin ruh sağlığı açısından da oldukça önemlidir. Dolayısıyla bu araştırma, ergenlerde çevrimiçi arkadaşlıkla ilişkili psikolojik faktörlere yönelik alanyazında yapılan çalışmaları gözden geçirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda, herhangi bir yıl sınırlaması olmaksızın “e-arkadaşlık”, “sanal arkadaşlık”, “çevrimiçi arkadaşlık”, “çevrimiçi ilişkiler” anahtar kelimelerinin İngilizceleri yazılarak Pubmed, Sage Journals, Science Direct, Scopus, Springer Link, Taylor & Francis ve Wiley Online Library olmak üzere yedi veri tabanında tarama yapılmıştır. Katılımcılarının yaş aralığı 10-20 olan toplam on çalışma dahil etme kriterlerini karşılamıştır. Bu çalışmalardan elde edilen sonuçlara göre; çevrimiçi arkadaşlığa yönelik olumlu tutum, yalnız hissetme, aile ve akran ilişkilerinde yaşanan olumsuz deneyimler ergenleri çevrimiçi arkadaşlık kurmaya yöneltmektedir. Çevrimiçi arkadaşlıkla ilgili psikolojik faktörlere ilişkin olarak da, çevrimiçi arkadaşlığın ergenlerin ruh sağlığı üzerinde olumlu (psikolojik ihtiyaç doyumu, yaşam doyumu) ve olumsuz (yalnızlık, olumsuz duygulanım, kıskançlık, düşük iyi oluş) etkileri olduğu görülmektedir.
The objective of this research was to examine and assess the emotional consequences of receiving likes on social media platforms among Tagalog tertiary students enrolled at Central Luzon State University. The study investigated the influence of these "likes" on students from various demographic backgrounds, revealing discrepancies in emotional reactions, self-perception, and potentially gender-related variations. Moreover, the research provides educators with valuable insights that can be utilized to instruct students on developing beneficial digital behaviors and navigating the intricate aspects of online interactions within academic environments. A survey questionnaire was given to the student-respondents used in this research; it is divided into two (2) parts: (1) closed-ended questions and (2) purely consists of open-ended questions. The data is analyzed through descriptive analysis to identify the effects of likes on emotional response of Tagalog tertiary students. The findings of the study indicate that female Tagalog students have a deeper emotional attachment to social media validation compared to male students. This is demonstrated by the fact that female students have a more intense reaction to likes and a greater sense of loss when their postings do not receive attention. The study emphasizes the significance of comprehending the impact of social media on the emotions of students, including both positive and negative consequences. It further emphasizes the need to analyze the effects of social media on communication, academic achievement, and overall welfare. The focus should be on quantifiable results, such as augmenting self-esteem, remaining up-to-date with current trends, and establishing a precise timeframe for optimizing resource utilization
The rise of mobile technology and social media has created a fragmented and interconnected social media landscape. Drawing from the concept of polymedia and media repertoire, this study paints social media as an integrated environment and introduces the concept of multiplatform mobile connectedness (MMC) as a representation of an individual’s curative social media repertoire, shaped by meanings attributed to each mobile media platform. By examining its relationship with negative well-being, this study contributes to the debate on the displacement or reinforcement hypothesis of mobile media in an integrated environment. Focusing on emerging adulthoods in China, this study reveals that MMC is associated with higher negative well-being through fear of missing out (FoMO) and leisure boredom. This finding offers a new perspective from MMC on the impact of mobile media on well-being.
The widespread use of the Internet and the popularity of mobile devices have greatly changed our communication habits. Due to their popularity, social networking sites (SNS) are at the center of online relationships, including romantic ones. This paper explores the emerging role of SNS on relationship social comparison (RSC) and individual and relational predictors of RSC. The present study used an experimental design to evaluate the role of relational posts of others’ on SNS. Specifically, RSC based on posts by others on SNS were analyzed. In addition, possible other factors that influence the tendency to make RSC, namely relationship satisfaction, investment, quality of alternatives, and adult attachment orientation were examined. The sample of the study consist of 251 participants. 180 (71%) were females and 71 (29%) were males. The sample’s mean age was 28.16 ( SD =6.32). According to the results, there was no significant effect of exposure to relational posts on RSC. On the other hand, the results showed that anxious attachment style and investment in romantic relationships positively predicted RSC tendency. On the contrary, relationship satisfaction negatively predicted RSC tendencies. This study provided an important insight for understanding the effects of SNS on RSC in terms of individual and relational factors.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the narratives in many facets of human activities including romantic relationships. As such, this study sought to investigate if COVID-19 stress affects relational resilience among romantic partners. Using the relational resilience theory which has an interpersonal communication theory, we engaged 510 married individuals with self-administered survey questions that elicited information regarding their stress levels, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and coping processes with relational resilience.
This research investigated the extent to which low self-esteem, relationship dissatisfaction, and relationship insecurity exacerbate intention to break up in romantic relationships. Results from the study indicated that low self-esteem contributed to individuals having negative thoughts, emotions, and evaluation of their romantic relationships. Quite importantly, findings in the study showed that insecurity and relationship dissatisfaction partially mediate the relationship between low self-esteem and intention to break up in romantic relationships. Findings also indicated that due to low self-esteem, individuals may begin to doubt the level of trust, love and care accorded them by their romantic partners.
Conflict in romantic relationships is a natural phenomenon. However, the use of social media by romantic partners has been described as a means of escalating conflicts in romantic relationships. This study sought to find out the effects of social media use on conflict in romantic relationships through the mediating variables of jealousy, infidelity, and monitoring The study recruited 373 individuals who are in romantic relationships. The findings of this study revealed a significant relationship between social media use and conflict in romantic relationships. This study also affirmed that jealousy, infidelity, and monitoring romantic partners are significant mediators between social media use and conflict in romantic relationships. Importantly, the study revealed that social media use is not a predictor of infidelity in romantic relationships.
Purpose
This study aims to build and test an empirical model that investigates the mechanism with which innovation-based human resource management (HRM) impacts employee satisfaction and performance in Nigerian international airports.
Design/methodology/approach
A time-lagged approach that involved three-waves was used to collect data from passenger-contact employees and their immediate managers for three-month period starting from January to March 2019. A total of 247 dyads of passenger-contact employees and managers were used for the data analysis.
Findings
Results from data analysis showed that coworker support and absorptive capacity mediate the impact of innovation-based HRM on employee satisfaction and performance. Innovation-based human resource effort is best applied when coworker support is evident in the workplace.
Originality/value
The development and application of innovation-driven human resources in the Nigerian aviation context encourage satisfaction with assigned task roles, leading to employee performance. Theory-based implications for managing passenger-contact employees were also given. A significant strength of this study is that it is among the forerunners of scholars that investigated innovation-based HRM as a continuum rather than different aspects of broader management issues.
This conceptual study proposed that university service quality is of significant influence in guaranteeing education tourist's (edu‐tourist) satisfaction, recommendation intention, and repurchase intention. The study considers the universities as tourism markets that attract edu‐tourists and put forward that the level of service quality provided by institutions can influence on the satisfaction of edu‐tourist and their post‐behavioral intention in an educational tourism context. This paper analyzed several previous studies and discussed service quality factors affecting edu‐tourist's satisfaction and behavioral intentions using various databases such as social sciences and psychology. The theoretical framework of the means‐end approach was used to evaluate service quality dimensions. The findings revealed the most significant factors affecting edu‐tourist's perception of service quality, satisfaction, and behavioral intentions. Overall, the campus facilities perceived to be the most prominent factor in satisfying edu‐tourists. Recommendations for future research relating the crucial determinants of service quality in influencing consumers' behavior are discussed.
In this paper, combinations of structural equation modeling and moderated‐hierarchical regression were used to examine the causal influence of organization‐driven innovation‐based human resource management on employee satisfaction among passenger‐contact employees in Nigeria. Further, we investigated the role that employee's proactivity plays in the aforementioned causal relationship. Specifically, our result implied that with higher levels of proactivity, passenger‐contact employees benefited more from the positive contribution of innovative human resource management than when proactivity is low. Theoretical and practical implications are suggested.
Geographically dispersed family members utilize frequent and diverse modes of communication to maintain their relationships. In transnational families separated by national boarders, family members may face constraints on channel selection due to cultural and/or structural factors. We draw from media multiplexity theory (MMT) and the cultural dimensions model to examine how transnationalism, societal individualism-collectivism (I-C), family allocentrism, and relational closeness influence the use of information communication technologies (ICTs) to maintain long-distance family relationships (LDFRs). Whereas results of the analysis provide cross-cultural support for MMT’s predictions regarding closeness and ICT frequency, the analysis reveals little support for MMT’s predictions regarding closeness and ICT variety. This study extends MMT by including culture in the study of relational closeness and ICT use, highlights the importance of family allocentrism when applying MMT to LDFRs, and demonstrates how transnational families can have frequent communication to maintain close, long-distance ties despite limited channel variety. Keywords: Culture, Immigrants, Information Communication Technologies, Long Distance Families, Relational ClosenessThis work was supported by the Humanities Center Faculty Fellowship program at Wayne State University.
Social media often have a dark side in romantic relationships. Affordances such as persistence, association, and visibility can promote romantic jealousy and the salience of relationship threats, including ex-partners. Retroactive jealousy occurs when a person feels upset about their partner’s romantic history even though ex-partners are not actively interfering in the current relationship. Interviews (N = 36) probed how participants felt social networking sites (SNSs) promoted and mitigated retroactive romantic jealousy. Furthermore, we examined the consequences of these experiences. Participants indicated that SNSs lead to retroactive jealousy via social comparison, digital remnants, and relational uncertainty. In addition, participants used SNSs to gather information or monitor their partners. These information-seeking activities allowed them to disparage a romantic partner’s exes; avoid direct, interactive information seeking about exes; and digitally fact-check information the partner disclosed. Some participants reframed information about the ex-relationship or actively avoided SNSs to reduce retroactive jealousy. Although SNSs may be used in an attempt to mitigate retroactive jealousy, our findings suggest this strategy may backfire in some cases.
Many competing social networking websites (SNSs) have gained popularity among Internet users. SNSs offer a new way of communicating with known and unknown connections under the umbrella of “friends.” Online communications can quickly become aggressive as uninhibited users tend to exchange intimate details and are prone to developing an emotional intimacy with their online friends. Research supports that an excessive SNSs use adversely affects romantic relationships due to jealousy, envy, suspicion, surveillance, and infidelity. SNSs use is also linked to low relationship commitment due to the presence of online alternative attractions and also due to the time and emotional investments that are made outside the dyadic relationship. In the current study, we examined 252 married and romantically committed partners (167 females, 85 males) between the ages of 18 to 73 years (M = 28.27, SD = 12.02). We explored the connection between participants’ age and SNSs addiction and also their age with the total number of SNSs accounts. We further examined whether SNSs addiction is linked to romantic relationship commitment. Lastly, we examined whether SNSs addiction is connected to the total number of SNSs accounts. The results revealed that age is significantly negatively related to SNSs addiction and the total number of accounts. Younger participants had higher SNSs addiction scores and reported having a greater number of SNSs accounts. SNSs addiction was also negatively linked to romantic relationship commitment. Finally, individuals who had higher SNSs addiction scores also reported having a greater number of SNSs accounts than those with low SNSs addiction scores. Results from the present study are pertinent and can help counselors customize a treatment plan based on SNSs users’ age and relationship status.
Although it is typically presumed that heterosexual individuals only fall in love with other-gender partners and gay-lesbian individuals only fall in love with same-gender partners, this is not always so. The author develops a biobehavioral model of love and desire to explain why. The model specifies that (a) the evolved processes underlying sexual desire and affectional bonding are functionally independent; (b) the processes underlying affectional bonding are not intrinsically oriented toward other-gender or same-gender partners; (c) the biobehavioral links between love and desire are bidirectional, particularly among women. These claims are supported by social-psychological, historical, and cross-cultural research on human love and sexuality as well as by evidence regarding the evolved biobehavioral mechanisms underlying mammalian mating and social bonding.
The 21st century social media has been described as a veritable tool to campaign and speak for the female gender. This study seeks to find out how social media is used to eradicate violence and sexual harassments in Nigeria. The study adopts quantitative methodology, a random sampling of 350 Nigerian students studying at the Eastern Mediterranean University in North Cyprus participated and questionnaires were administered to these Nigerian students in the 2016-17 fall semester. Findings reveal that 94% of the females attest to the fact they have been exposed to one form of violent abuse or the other from the opposite sex. Majority of the respondents representing 79.6% also attest to the fact that social media helps in the campaign on violence against women. The study reveals that poverty is one of the leading issues that is currently increasing the abuse against the female gender in Nigeria. Social Media was affirmed as one of the tools that have been helping women speak for their rights and as well serves a mechanism for proper enlightenment on how to protect themselves.
Understanding how people use communication technologies (CTs) in close relationships requires examining interdependencies in or patterns of CT use in those relationships. We combined channel complementarity theory and media multiplexity theory to investigate first-year college students’ (N = 155) use of CTs (video chat, phone calls, and text messaging) in close, long-distance friendships over a 3- to 10-day period. Overall, CTs were used complementarily. However, complementary use of phone calls and text messaging was higher in closer friendships. In contrast, phone calls and video chat were complementary at low but not high levels of closeness. These findings suggest utility in combining channel complementarity theory and media multiplexity theory to understand the “web” of CTs used in daily communication in long-distance friendships and point to similarities in and differences between CTs that might affect complementarity.
Social comparisons on social networking sites can be problematic for some individuals. However, this has never been examined in a parenting context, where the pressure for mothers to portray themselves as “perfect parents” may be high. The aim of the current study was to examine associations between making social comparisons on social networking sites with mothers’ parenting, mental health, and romantic relationship outcomes. In the iMom Project, 721 mothers completed a number of questionnaires regarding their social media use, parenting behaviors, and health outcomes. Results revealed that making social comparisons on social networking sites was related to parenting outcomes (in the form of higher levels of parental role overload, and lower levels of parental competence and perceived social support), relationship outcomes (in the form of more conflict over social networking sites and perceiving less positive coparenting relationships) and higher levels of maternal depression. This study adds to a growing literature suggesting that making social comparisons online may be associated with a number of negative outcomes, and extends it to the context of mothering. This study has implications for the way that mothers use social media, specifically in the use of social comparisons.
Social media provides one route to behaviors that may be potentially harmful to romantic relationships, such as communicating with alternative partners, which can sometimes create relationship conflict, breakups, or divorce. Limited empirical evidence exists concerning social media infidelity-related behaviors and marital relationships. This study examined whether married/cohabiting individuals are using social media sites to engage in online infidelity-related behaviors and to what extent this related to relationship satisfaction, ambivalence, and relational attachment characteristics as reported by 338 married/cohabiting individuals from 176 families. Only a small percentage of married/cohabiting couples reported engaging in social media infidelity-related behaviors; however, more engagement in infidelity-related behaviors on social media was significantly related to lower relationship satisfaction, higher relationship ambivalence, and greater attachment avoidance and anxiety in both women and men. Additionally, attachment anxiety and gender interacted with relationship satisfaction in predicting online infidelity-related behaviors when controlling for other variables. Implications are discussed.
Guided by media multiplexity theory (MMT), this article reports results of an experimental study examining how participants say they would respond to hypothetical changes in media use (i.e. increasing or decreasing use frequency) by an extended family member. After contending that MMT addresses both media use patterns and expectations, we employed expectancy violations theory (EVT) to consider the extent to which communication satisfaction (CS) and tie strength moderate evaluations of media use violations. Results supported MMT’s prediction that tie strength would moderate the extent to which the violation was perceived as important, whereas, following EVT, CS with the relative moderated perception of the violation’s valence. Beyond highlighting possible outcomes of media use violations, these results commend the nature of the relationship as a motivating force for media selection in interpersonal contexts.
Geosocial networking (GSN) mobile phone applications (“apps”) are used frequently among men who have sex with men (MSM) to socialize and meet sexual partners. Though GSN apps are used by some MSM in partnered relationships, little is known about how the use of GSN apps among MSM in serious romantic relationships can influence couples’ sexual and relationship health. MSM in serious relationships (N = 323; M age = 40 years) were recruited through a popular GSN app for MSM. Participants completed open-ended items regarding the costs and benefits of app use to their relationships, discussions of app use with their partners, and preferences for relationship education related to app use. Reported benefits of app use included improving sex and communication with one’s primary partner and fulfilling unmet sexual needs. Although approximately half had not discussed app use with their partners, citing app use as a “non-issue,” many cited various drawbacks to app use, including jealousy and being a distraction from the relationship. Few described sexual health concerns as a drawback to meeting partners through apps. Regarding relationship education preferences, most wanted help with general communication skills and how to express one’s sexual needs to a partner. Although GSN app use can enhance relationships and sex among partnered MSM, unclear communication about app use may contribute to negative relationship outcomes and could prevent partners from having sexual needs met. Relationship and sexual health education programs for male couples should consider addressing social media and technology use in their curricula.
Failure to reach data saturation has an impact on the quality of the research conducted and hampers content validity. The aim of a study should include what determines when data saturation is achieved, for a small study will reach saturation more rapidly than a larger study. Data saturation is reached when there is enough information to replicate the study when the ability to obtain additional new information has been attained, and when further coding is no longer feasible. The following article critiques two qualitative studies for data saturation: Wolcott (2004) and Landau and Drori (2008). Failure to reach data saturation has a negative impact on the validity on one’s research. The intended audience is novice student researchers. © 2015: Patricia I. Fusch, Lawrence R. Ness, and Nova Southeastern University.
Partner phubbing (Pphubbing) can be best understood as the extent to which an individual uses or is distracted by his/her cell phone while in the company of his/her relationship partner. The present study is the first to investigate the oft-occurring behavior of Pphubbing and its impact on relationship satisfaction and personal well-being. In Study 1, a nine-item scale was developed to measure Pphubbing. The scale was found to be highly reliable and valid. Study 2 assessed the study's proposed relationships among a sample of 145 adults. Results suggest that Pphubbing's impact on relationship satisfaction is mediated by conflict over cell phone use. One's attachment style was found to moderate the Pphubbing - cell phone conflict relationship. Those with anxious attachment styles reported higher levels of cell phone conflict than those with less anxious attachment styles. Importantly, Pphubbing was found to indirectly impact depression through relationship satisfaction and ultimately life satisfaction. Given the ever-increasing use of cell phones to communicate between romantic partners, the present research offers insight into the process by which such use may impact relationship satisfaction and personal well-being. Directions for future research are discussed.
Abstract Due to their pervasiveness and unique affordances, social media play a distinct role in the development of modern romantic relationships. This study examines how a social networking site is used for information seeking about a potential or current romantic partner. In a survey, Facebook users (N=517) were presented with Facebook behaviors categorized as passive (e.g., reading a partner's profile), active (e.g., "friending" a common third party), or interactive (e.g., commenting on the partner's wall) uncertainty reduction strategies. Participants reported how normative they perceived these behaviors to be during four possible stages of relationship development (before meeting face-to-face, after meeting face-to-face, casual dating, and exclusive dating). Results indicated that as relationships progress, perceived norms for these behaviors change. Sex differences were also observed, as women perceived passive and interactive strategies as more normative than men during certain relationship stages.
Abstract Social networking sites serve as both a source of information and a source of tension between romantic partners. Previous studies have investigated the use of Facebook for monitoring former and current romantic partners, but why certain individuals engage in this behavior has not been fully explained. College students (N=328) participated in an online survey that examined two potential explanatory variables for interpersonal electronic surveillance (IES) of romantic partners: attachment style and relational uncertainty. Attachment style predicted both uncertainty and IES, with preoccupieds and fearfuls reporting the highest levels. Uncertainty did not predict IES, however. Future directions for research on romantic relationships and online surveillance are explored.
As the use of qualitative inquiry increases within the field of social work, researchers must consider the issue of establishing rigor in qualitative research. This article presents research procedures used in a study of autoethnographies that were written regarding the experience of being Jewish. In this project, the researchers utilized reflexivity, audit trail, triangulation by observer, peer debriefing, member check and prolonged engagement in order to manage the threats to trustworthiness as discussed by Padgett (1998). Implications of the project suggest that research procedures utilized by qualitative researchers to establish rigor are an important way to increase our confidence that the voice of the participants is heard, therefore fitting the mission of the social work profession.
During the past two decades we have witnessed a rather impressive growth of theoretical innovations and conceptual revisions of epistemological and methodological approaches within constructivist-qualitative quarters of the social sciences. Methodological discussions have commonly addressed a variety of methods for collecting and analyzing empirical material, yet the critical grounds upon which these were reformulated have rarely been extended to embrace sampling concepts and procedures. The latter have been overlooked, qualifying only as a 'technical' research stage. This article attends to snowball sampling via constructivist and feminist hermeneutics, suggesting that when viewed critically, this popular sampling method can generate a unique type of social knowledge—knowledge which is emergent, political and interactional. The article reflects upon researches about backpacker tourists and marginalized men, where snowball sampling was successfully employed in investigating these groups' organic social networks and social dynamics. In both studies, interesting interrelations were found between sampling and interviewing facets, leading to a reconceptualization of the method of snowball sampling in terms of power relations, social networks and social capital.
Theme identification is one of the most fundamental tasks in qualitative research. It also is one of the most mysterious. Explicit descriptions of theme discovery are rarely found in articles and reports, and when they are, they are often relegated to appendices or footnotes. Techniques are shared among small groups of social scientists, but sharing is impeded by disciplinary or epistemological boundaries. The techniques described here are drawn from across epistemological and disciplinary boundaries. They include both observational and manipulative techniques and range from quick word counts to laborious, in-depth, line-by-line scrutiny. Techniques are compared on six dimensions: (1) appropriateness for data types, (2) required labor, (3) required expertise, (4) stage of analysis, (5) number and types of themes to be generated, and (6) issues of reliability and validity.
Personal relationships are noted for intimacy, frequent interaction, the maintenance of multiple relations, face-to-face contact and a desire for proximity. What happens to such relationships when face-to-face contact is unavailable or severely limited? How do pairs maintain personal relationships at a distance and via computer-mediated communication, and what do their personal networks look like under these conditions? Social network data from four computer-supported distance learning classes are used to build a picture of the size and composition of students' personal online networks. Individuals reported on their communications regarding instrumental and social relations with others in their class, and on which media they used to maintain these relations. In keeping with social network studies, those who communicate more frequently maintain more relations and more socially supportive relations, and report more positively about their desire for future work and social interaction. Individuals benefit from closer ties by feeling a stronger belonging to the class and perceiving greater social interaction among class mates. Unique to the online multi-media environment, strongly tied pairs use more media to communicate and appropriate both the technology and occasions for interaction to maintain their ties. Interview data from members of the same program reveal that pairs with closer ties used computer media to create virtual proximity, whispering to each other via Internet Relay Chat during synchronous classes, and seeking out others via email late at night.
With globalization and the marketization of higher education, the relationship between higher education institutions (HEIs) and students is becoming more complex. As the cost of higher education increases, the expectations of students have not only changed dramatically but, combined with heightened competition in the market, it is clear that the balance of power has moved towards the students. Operating across this new landscape, HEIs are facing a different set of opportunities and challenges. In order to survive, differentiation through service innovation is imperative to achieving success in attracting and retaining students. While this has been voiced by a number of authors, until now, there is a paucity of empirical research examining the impact of service innovation in higher education on individual customer outcomes. This paper explores the links between service innovation and well‐being and the mediating roles of perceived service quality and customer engagement within the higher education context. The research is timely as previous studies have not taken into consideration the mediating roles of customer engagement between service innovation and customer well‐being. Yet, unless customers are engaged and participating in the service innovation process, or satisfied with the service innovation, the innovation may not lead to the desired customer outcomes. HEIs cannot afford to ignore the expectations of their primary customers (students). Hence, this conceptual paper seeks to develop a conceptual model of how service innovation leads to student/consumer well‐being and the mechanism through which perceived service quality and customer engagements affects this process.
We investigated how a lack of trust in one’s romantic partner exacerbates problems such as emotional instability, conflict, or intention to break up in relationships with the role of cell phone snooping as a mediator. A cross-sectional survey of married individuals (n = 329) was conducted using an online questionnaire. Results indicate that lack of trust is a significant predictor of romantic relationship problems. In addition, structural equation modeling results support the theoretical model indicating that cell phone snooping partially mediates the significant relationship between emotional instability, intention to break up, and conflicts. Findings support the development of trust in romantic partners as an approach to stability and avoidance of problems in romantic relationships.
Drawing from knowledge management theory, this study examines the relationships between employee's propensity to trust, organic organizational structure, knowledge sharing behavior, and service innovation in a multivariate nexus in restaurants. Data from 180 restaurants with a total of 453 employees were used to test the research hypotheses via partial least square structural equation modelling. As expected, the results of the empirical analysis revealed that propensity to trust is positively related to knowledge sharing behavior, organic organizational structure and service innovation; and knowledge sharing behavior is positively related to organic organizational structure and service innovation. Further, this study established that both knowledge sharing behavior and organic organizational structure serially mediates the positive effect of propensity to trust on service innovation. The result of importance-performance analysis highlights propensity to trust as the highest important predictor of service innovation while knowledge sharing is the best performance factor for service innovation in restaurants.
This publication is freely downloadable from http://www.networkcultures.org/publications 2 CONTENTS
The advent of social media platforms has revolutionized the process of information creation, dissemination and consumption. Although highly debated, pornography consumption on social media is a reality. Building on an acquisition, activation, and application model, this study investigates student’s (n = 379) gratification in romantic relationships as an outcome of their pornography consumption on social media, through the mediating effect of sexual confidence and sexual compulsivity. PROCESS macro was used to analyze the data. Results indicate that the effect of pornography consumption on a viewer’s gratification in a romantic relationship is partially mediated by sexual confidence (β = .0461, p < .001) and sexual compulsivity (β = .420, p < .001). These findings hold important contributions to current literature. Findings also indicate that pornography consumption positively and significantly aids a viewer’s sexual gratification in romantic relationships.
Food handlers are essential in the fight for the prevention of foodborne disease outbreaks as they are critical in ensuring the delivery of safe and healthy food to the consumers. The current study build on knowledge, attitude, and practice model (KAP) to investigate the impact of food handlers' knowledge and attitude on
the hygienic-sanitary conditions of food delivered to the consumers in Nigerian hospitality sector. Using data collected from food handlers in restaurants, hotels and hospitals in Jos metropolis of Nigeria, the study revealed that handlers applied food safety measures to the level of their knowledge. Further investigation revealed that KAP model works effectively in the case of food handlers in Jos. We conclude with recommendations for the industry and education institutes where handlers are trained.
Building on the knowledge, attitude and practice model, this study investigated the role of food handlers in adherence to hygienic-sanitary standards for food safety. Specifically, using data gathered from food handlers in restaurants, hotels, and hospitals in Nigeria, the study examined the effect of food handlers' safety knowledge on their hygienic-sanitary practices of personal hygiene, kitchen hygiene and disease control measures. We also observed the mediating role of food handlers' attitudes in the causal relationship between food safety knowledge and the hygienic-sanitary practices of food handlers. Empirical findings supported the hypothesized assumption that food safety knowledge positively impacts food handler's attitudes (β = .395, p < 0.001) and attitudes in turn significantly contribute to the adherence to hygienic-sanitary conditions for food safety. Further, other than the indirect effect of the handler's attitude on food safety knowledge and personal hygiene, food handlers' attitude partially mediates the effect of knowledge on kitchen hygiene and disease control measure. Implications for managers, government and academicians are also discussed.
Western culture suffers from an illusion of separation between the mental and the physical, which is mirrored in the rift between psyche and the Earth. Jungian phenomenology offers a way to heal this rift by returning to direct experiential encounters with the beings and presences of the physical and imaginal worlds.
Contemporary adolescents rely heavily on technology and media to navigate romantic relationships. In this mixed-methods study, adolescents and young adults (N = 204) detailed their perceptions of how entertainment media and interactive technology influence adolescent romantic relationships. The majority of adolescents and young adults perceived that entertainment media (95%) and interactive technology (97%) did influence adolescent romantic relationships. Using a qualitative analysis approach, we found six major themes. Although entertainment media provided media role models for expected behavior in romantic relationships, it was also associated with the development of unrealistic relational expectations and perceived pressure to be in a romantic relationship. Participants perceived that interactive technology has changed the way adolescents communicate with romantic partners, become integrated into the entire relationship life cycle, and led to a decline in face-to-face communication in adolescent romantic relationships.
This study examines whether adolescent motivations for social media use, social comparison tendencies and gender are related to online aggression victimization and/or perpetration. Results from a national cross-sectional survey of adolescents (N = 340) reveal that social media use, romantic motivations, social belongingness motivations and greater social comparison tendencies are associated with online aggression victimization (R² = 0.38). Information motivations and entertainment motivations are negatively associated with online aggression perpetration, but romantic motivations, social comparison, and social media use were positive predictors (R² = 0.34). Further examination of interactions and indirect effects suggests that romantic motivations for social media use are an important predictor of involvement in online aggression among adolescents.
This phenomenological study examined the experiences of men who committed to romantic relationships with women under 50, post breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Twelve men from throughout the United States, who were dating their partner for at least six months, participated in semi-structured interviews. Findings focused on initial disclosure timing, previous experience/knowledge about the cancer, reacting with acceptance despite concerns, focusing on love/connection, respecting and admiring the survivor, and the ongoing impact of cancer on the relationship. Clinical implications are discussed, highlighting the systemic effect that breast cancer may have on a couple even after treatment is complete.
The use of social media is a societal trend influencing the way that individuals communicate with and relate to one another. Moreover, Facebook use may facilitate or hinder individuals' relationship growth and development. The purpose of this article is to (a) review research examining Facebook usage and interpersonal relationships, (b) present qualitative insight into the Facebook experiences of college students (N = 16) from a large southeastern university, and (c) offer implications for college counselors. © 2016 by the American Counseling Association. All rights reserved.
Drawing on social-psychology and communication theories, we advance a theoretical model to explain the negative effects of selfies on romantic relationships. We suggest that this individualistic use of social media is related to selfie related conflicts between partners through two processes: (1) jealousy, stemming from excessive individual photo-sharing or comments about those pictures, and (2) that, by sharing flattering images of oneself, an online ideal persona is created in the picture-taker’s mind that diverges from real-life. These conflicts in turn reduce perceived quality of the romantic relationships. To test the model we conducted a two-wave, representative panel survey, separated by one year. Results support a partial mediation model between taking selfies and lower perception of relationship quality, suggesting that both mediators, jealousy and the online ideal persona, have a negative effect on romantic relationship over time.
The present study uses uncertainty reduction theory to analyze how Latino adolescents perceive that mass media influence their conceptions of romantic relationships. In addition, we explore how these adolescents use social media in their romantic relationships. Data are from five focus groups with 44 Latino adolescents (M = 16.39 years old; 59% female) in the US Midwest. Findings indicate that Latino adolescents believe media portray unrealistic ideals of romantic relationships, yet these teens also see the portrayals as ideals to which they should aspire. When it comes to social media, the youth perceived one-to-one mediated communication (e.g. Skype) as beneficial to their romantic relationships, but evaluated one-to-many mediated communication (e.g. Facebook, Instagram) as largely negative. Our findings identify three sources of evidence in the latter context that create relational uncertainty: (1) visual, (2) partner communication, and (3) third-party communication.
Our aim with this article is to demonstrate how the researchers use bracketing as a method of demonstrating the validity after initiating a phenomenological study. Although bracketing is a method of demonstrating the validity of the data collection and analysis process in most phenomenological studies, how the researchers use them in practice is rarely demonstrated explicitly. We collected data through our experiences in preparing a phenomenological research study. We suggest that the concept of bracketing should be adopted upon initiating the research proposal and not merely in the data collection and analysis process. We propose four strategies for doing bracketing that are guided by the thinking activity of reflexivity: mentality assessment and preparation before deciding the research paradigm, deciding the scope of the literature review according to the prevailing gate-keeping policy, planning for data collection using semi-structured interviews guided by open-ended questions, and planning for data analysis using Colaizzi's method. Our proposition highlights that thorough preparation for doing bracketing is essential before entering the data collection and analysis process in phenomenology, because they are sequentially related. © 2013: Zenobia C.Y. Chan, Yuen-ling Fung, Wai-tong Chien, and Nova Southeastern University.
Previous work has begun to incorporate psychological constructs into our understanding of media multiplexity (i.e., use of multiple media in a single interpersonal relationship). Following this approach, this investigation examined how a user's enjoyment of a communication medium might both predict medium use frequency and alter the extent to which closeness is an outcome of such use. Results supported this model across six popular interpersonal communication media (voice telephone, text messaging, e-mail, instant messaging, video chat, and social networking sites) in relationships with extended family members. Specifically, at low levels of medium enjoyment, use of a medium was not associated with relational closeness. Practically, these results suggest that communicating via an unsatisfying medium may not foster relational closeness; theoretically, these results argue for including psychological processes to strengthen MMT as a theory of interpersonal media choice.
Money is critical for financial and relational well-being, yet financial communication is often considered taboo, and most Americans receive little financial guidance. Not surprisingly, romantic couples experience financial uncertainty, which has been negatively correlated with satisfaction and trust. Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews of 40 individuals in married or cohabitating relationships and the lens of Uncertainty Management Theory (UMT), this investigation examines how people are (un)able to manage financial uncertainty. The study uncovers tangible ways individuals can negotiate financial uncertainty via uncertainty reduction, maintenance, and adaption, as well as information, communication, time-management, and/or sociocultural barriers that can impede uncertainty management. The investigation suggests the extension of UMT to consider the role of the dyad and offers practical implications for financial literacy and communication efforts.
We examine the influence of a positive attitude towards technology, number of social media network memberships and grade-point average (GPA) on global citizenship identification antecedents and outcomes. Students (N = 3628) at a university in the Philippines completed a survey assessing the above constructs. The results showed that attitude towards technology, number of social network site memberships and GPA-predicted global citizenship identification, and subsequent prosocial outcomes (e.g. intergroup helping, responsibility to act for the betterment of the world), through the perception that valued others prescribe a global citizen identity (normative environment) and perceived knowledge of the world and felt interconnectedness with others (global awareness). The results highlight the associations between technology and academic performance with a global identity and associated values.
The article critically examines how people use media when in romantic relationships. By use' we mean two things: the use of media discourses and the use of media technologies. The main findings are based on analysis of 42 discursive questionnaires and 14 semi-structured interviews consisting of almost 20 hours of recorded material.
With most current studies focusing on the snapshot of family structure and offspring relationship outcomes, this study examined how children’s exposure to mothers’ cumulative relationship history affected the likelihood of their own romantic involvement in adolescence and relationship frequency from adolescence to young adulthood. Using a large, nationally representative dataset, this study found that the number of mothers’ relationship transitions was positively associated with both the likelihood of romantic involvement among adolescent children and relationship frequency their children had from adolescence to young adulthood. Further, the association between mothers’ relationship transitions and young adults’ relationship frequency was mediated by mother-adolescent relationship closeness and young adults’ attitude towards marriage and relationships. Finally, an interaction between mother-adolescent relationship closeness and adolescent gender on young adults’ relationship frequency was found.
In the context of recent debates about same-sex marriage, consensually nonmonogamous (CNM) relationships have recently begun making their way into media discussions. In the current research, we investigated whether stigma is attached to these nonnormative romantic relationships and, conversely, whether halo effects surround monogamous relationships. In Study 1 we analyzed open-ended responses to the question “what are the benefits of monogamy?”. The most commonly mentioned benefits included the promotion of commitment and health (especially the prevention of sexually transmitted infections [STIs]). In Study 2, descriptions of CNM relationships were strongly stigmatized and a substantial halo effect surrounded monogamous relationships. Specifically, monogamous relationships were rated more positively than CNM relationships on every dimension (both relationship-relevant and arbitrary relationship-irrelevant factors) that we examined and across diverse social groups, including CNM individuals themselves. In Study 3, we conducted a person perception study in which participants provided their impressions of a monogamous or a CNM relationship. The monogamous couple was rated overwhelmingly more favorably than the CNM relationship. Finally, in Study 4, we replicated the findings with a set of traits that were generated with regard to relationships in general (rather than monogamous relationships, specifically) and with a broader set of arbitrary traits. Across all studies, the results consistently demonstrated stigma surrounding CNM and a halo effect surrounding monogamy. Implications for future research examining similarities and differences between monogamous and CNM relationships are discussed.
This manuscript reports an empirical study integrating equity and media multiplexity approaches to relational maintenance via separation of medium- and content-specific components of behaviors. Results from confirmatory factor analysis demonstrate good fit for the decomposition model. The analysis also revealed that content- and medium-specific components differentially predict the strength and quality of friends’ influence. Specifically, positivity and social networks predict control mutuality, whereas medium-specific components predict interdependence. Although face-to-face maintenance indirectly predicts control mutuality, online maintenance exhibits no such association. Results did not differ significantly between local and long-distance friends. In addition to introducing a statistical tool for separating content- and medium-specific effects, these results suggest how theoretical understandings of relational maintenance behavior can be refined.
This article investigates the philosophy of phenomenology, continuing to examine and describe it as a methodology. There are different methods of phenomenology, divided by their different perspectives of what phenomenology is: largely grouped into the two types of descriptive and interpretive phenomenology. The focal methodology is hermeneutic phenomenology—one type of phenomenological methodology among interpretive phenomenological methodologies. The context for phenomenology and the location of hermeneutic phenomenology is explained through its historic antecedents. When using phenomenology as a methodology there are criteria for data gathering and data analysis and examples of these are cited in this paper. Also in this paper we give examples from a study of curriculum design of thematic statements, defining whether they are useful data for a hermeneutic phenomenological study.
In an online survey with two cohorts (2009 and 2011) of undergraduates in dating relationships, we examined how attachment was related to communication technology use within romantic relationships. Participants reported on their attachment style and frequency of in-person communication as well as phone, text messaging, social network site (SNS), and electronic mail usage with partners. Texting and SNS communication were more frequent in 2011 than 2009. Attachment avoidance was related to less frequent phone use and texting, and greater email usage. Electronic communication channels (phone and texting) were related to positive relationship qualities, however, once accounting for attachment, only moderated effects were found. Interactions indicated texting was linked to more positive relationships for highly avoidant (but not less avoidant) participants. Additionally, email use was linked to more conflict for highly avoidant (but not less avoidant) participants. Finally, greater use of a SNS was positively associated with intimacy/support for those higher (but not lower) on attachment anxiety. This study illustrates how attachment can help to explain why the use of specific technology-based communication channels within romantic relationships may mean different things to different people, and that certain channels may be especially relevant in meeting insecurely attached individuals’ needs.
This study examines patterns of interpersonal media use in same-sex friendships. Using a refined version of Scott and Timmerman’s media use scale, participants reported the extent to which they used eight different communication media and the level of interdependence in the friendship. The results revealed four distinct factors of media use: asynchronous public communication, asynchronous private communication, social networking communication and synchronous offline communication. Both sex and geographic distance differences emerged on these factors and all factors except asynchronous private communication predicted friendship interdependence. These findings clarify underlying patterns of media use and suggest that both privacy and orality are salient properties delineating media types.
Research on the assessment of naturalistic inquiries is reviewed, and criteria for assessment are outlined. Criteria reviewed include early foundational and non-foundational criteria, trustworthiness criteria, axiomatic criteria, rhetorical criteria, action criteria, and application/transferability criteria. Case studies that are reports of naturalistic inquiries should meet the following criteria: (1) provide a sense of vicarious "deja vu" experience; (2) allow for use as a metaphor; and (3) allow for use as a basis for re-examining and reconstructing one's own construction of a given phenomena. Product criteria are as important as are process criteria, and studies that can be shown to meet these product criteria will fulfill important functions within the emergent paradigm. Such studies will: resonate with the basic assumptions or axioms of the naturalistic paradigm; exemplify the interpersonal involvement that characterized the form of inquiry; and empower, activate, and stimulate the reader. (TJH)
This paper explores the impact of communication media and the Internet on connectivity between people. Results from a series of social network studies of media use are used as background for exploration of these impacts. These studies explored the use of all available media among members of an academic research group and among distance learners. Asking about media use as well as about the strength of the tie between communicating pairs revealed that those more strongly tied used more media to communicate than weak ties, and that media use within groups conformed to a unidimensional scale, showing a configuration of different tiers of media use supporting social networks of different ties strengths. These results lead to a number of implications regarding media and Internet connectivity, including: how media use can be added to characteristics of social network ties; how introducing a medium can create latent tie connectivity among group members that provides the technical means for activating weak ties, and also how a change in a medium can disrupt existing weak tie networks; how the tiers of media use also suggest that certain media support different kinds of information flow; and the importance of organization-level decisions about what media to provide and promote. The paper concludes with a discussion of implications for Internet effects.