One-third of all college relationships define themselves as long distance romantic relationships and 40% of all long distance relationships end with a break-up (Ellis, N. K., & Ledbetter, A. M. 2015). Long distance relationships or LDR are fairly common in college students because of the increasing use of social media and other communication technologies that make it easier to maintain LDRS. LDR has limited face to face and physical interactions, instead the use of phone calls, letters, email, and social media is used to maintain their relationships (Dainton and Aylor 2002). Once two people are distanced, it really doesn’t matter how far apart they are from each other, they have to define for themselves if they are in a LDR. College students with Long distance romantic relationships or LDR have a decreased relationship quality compared to close proximity relationships. Face to face interactions are limited in LDR which leads to uncertainty and relationship turbulence. LDR couples communication may be effected by distance and could cause changes in mental and physical responses that tend to increase relationship satisfaction (Carstensen, Isaacowitz, & Charles; Stafford, 2010).While the couple in a long distance relationship often shares feelings of strong commitment, uncertainty can arise for many reasons (Sahlstein 2006).
Interpersonal romantic relationships can be defined being long distance relationships for a number of reasons. LDR is mainly defined by how relationships are communications is restricted by geographic aspects Stafford, L. (2005). Many people may defined geographic aspects differently, 30 miles and 1,000 miles away can equally be considered a LDR, if a couple desires a close and continued relationship (Hubbard, A. S. E. 2001). LDR for college students can be defined by most people with only being able to see each other face to face through university breaks, or only a few times a year. All relationships require positivity, openness ,assurances, sharing tasks and social networks according to the Stafford and Canary maintenance typology. Pro-social behaviors and of relationship satisfaction go hand in hand with each other (Stafford, 2003). Like all relationships conflicts and relationship turbulence can happen at any point within a relationship. Close proximity relationships require the same aspects to work but LDRs require more assurance and openness. LDR couples report more intimate talk and activities, more avoidance of conflict and taboo topics, and less discussion of important premarital decisions. A strong feeling of attachment between couples in any relationship is necessary. Many different types of stressors can negatively effect a LDR like any relationship. External stressors is the stress that both partners deal with together and internal stressors is the stress that one partner feels individually. An example of an eternal stressor would be the adjustment from high school to college, the change of lifestyle can be hard to adjust to especially if good time management skills is not something both partners have achieved. Interal stressors can effect a relationship as well, an example would be if energy one partner puts in is not reciprocated by the other partner. This can cause uncertainty within a relationship and decrease relationship satisfaction. Couples in LDRs have a harder time monitoring the security and assurance that creates feeling of attachment between each partner compare to close proximity relationships that are able to easily monitor the sense of security betweens partners. It becomes harder to have that feeling of attachment if you are not communicating enough face to face or though CMC or computer mediated communication.
Long distance relationship requires closeness and to achieve closeness you have to reduce uncertainty in a relationship and increase self disclosure (Johnson, A. J., Haigh, M. M., Becker, J. A. H., Craig, E. A., & Wigley, S. 2008) Self-disclosure is crucial in relationship development and maintenance. Intimate discourse increases closeness witting a relationship which overall increases relationship satisfaction. Uncertainty in LDRs is associated with lower levels of liking, trust, and commitment (Dainton & Aylor, 2001) . A relational uncertainty analysis of jealousy, trust, and maintenance in long-distance versus geographically close relationships (Communication Quarterly.Ficara & Mongeau, 2000). Uncertainty often produces anxiety and stress, which can lead individuals to doubt their communication competence and, ultimately, their relational status (Knobloch & Theiss, 2010). Without face to face interaction, self uncertainty within relationships will grow and help shield couples from reaching interdependence (Maguire, K. C. 2007). Dainton and Aylor found that strategies such as openness, assurances, and positivity is correlated with decreased relationship maintenance (2001). Long distance relationships form more perceptions about a relationships than close proximity relationships which leads to relationship turbulence (Crystal Jiang, L., & Hancock, J. T. 2013) emotional overload, increased conflict, and excessive dependence can be caused by limiting intimate self disclosure, which might happen when couples may feel uncertainty within their relationships. When problematic issues may arise, couples in LDR tend to disclose less about those issues in hopes to limit conflict this is called fearful avoidance. Fearful avoidance causes partners to be less involved within their relationships and couples may even create internal stressors.
Computer-mediated communication is used everyday by colleges students, especially social media (Wang, H., & Andersen, P. 2007). CMC is task- and relationship-oriented communication conducted via social media, text messages or forms of communication through computers (Johnson, et la . 2008). Synchronous communication or instant messaging allows messages to be time flexible and casual which allows for relationships to grow without face to face interactions. Face to face communications though media that requires the physical presence of both partners, or loneliness can occur. Loneliness can happen when one person expects but does not receive social contact they expect.With less face to face communication loneliness can occur.Uses and gratifications theory helps to show media usage and how people interpret messages within a LDR.Uses and Gratifications theory states that individuals chose how they receive information by ignoring or overlook information that does not give them gratification (Dainton, M., & Stokes, A. 2015). Social media is mainly used for social maintenance and social information for other people that may be in their network. Social media alone cannot support a relationship, face to face interaction is necessary for maintaining a relationship (Stafford, L. & Merolla, A. J. 2007 ). Lastly, whether the LDR is in good standing or not, it has no impact on self-disclosure in either FtF or CMC context, if a relationship’s self disclosure during CMC tends to stay steady (Dainton, M., & Stokes, A. 2015).
In conclusion, LDR romantic relationships work they same way as any relationship when it comes down to conflict management and relationship satisfaction. LDRs are defined