Page 98 - Never Too Far Away? The Roles of Social Network Sites in Sojourners’ Adjustment

Gauging a partner’s involvement via SNS
Previous studies have demonstrated that people involved in romantic relationships use SNS to access information and to monitor their partner, and that they rely on this information to gauge their partner’s involvement and loyalty (Muise et al., 2009; Tokunaga, 2011; Utz & Beukeboom, 2011). The present research contributes to these findings by showing that these SNS-related behaviors and experiences are more pronounced among people in LDRR. Partner surveillance and jealousy are oftentimes interpreted as negative consequences of SNS use in romantic relationships, suggesting that SNS use is detrimental to LDRR. However, such an interpretation might be erroneous. Considering the situation of LDRR couples, SNS may provide LDRR couples with opportunities to experience relationship processes that might otherwise be absent or limited. These processes, although related to negative emotions and thoughts, may have important maintenance functions depending on the couple’s motivations and responses. For instance, SNS partner surveillance may be the only way for LDRR couples to access social information about their partner. SNS surveillance can be either intentional or unintentional (Utz & Beukeboom, 2011). Unintentional SNS surveillance is inherent in the medium. Thus, whether couples want information about their partner or not, information sharing is inevitable if they are SNS contacts. Information about the partner and public displays of affection via SNS may contribute to relationship maintenance (Papp et al., 2012). Intentional SNS partner surveillance may be perceived as a negative behavior because of its intrusive characteristic (Utz & Beukeboom, 2011). However, without any other sources of public information in LDRR, purposeful seeking of information about the partner may signal continued interest and concern for the partner who is far away. When couples lack daily togetherness for an extended period of time, SNS partner surveillance may thus serve a maintenance function for the relationship. Like SNS surveillance, SNS- related jealousy may not necessarily be bad for the relationship. Attridge (2013) described offline (reactive) jealousy in GCRR as a positive sentiment because it promotes relationship quality. It arouses a sense of protectiveness over the relationship, motivating one to act in a manner that affirms love for the other. SNS-related jealousy may function in a similar manner and thereby contribute positively to relationship quality. SNS provide LDRR couples with public relational experiences and processes that otherwise would be very limited. Although SNS partner surveillance and SNS jealousy are interpreted as negative consequences of SNS use, they may serve maintenance functions in situations where partners
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