Satisfaction and the Use of Social Media in Geographically Distant Relationships

Geographically distant relationships have mainly been studied in the context of satisfaction. This study takes geographically distant relationship satisfaction a step further by analyzing the influence social media has on a romantic partner’s satisfaction in the relationship. Respondents (N=95) in a geographically distant relationship reported their level of satisfaction with social media use in their relationship. Qualitative findings reported that romantic partners did not find the use of social media to be a significant contributor in maintaining relational satisfaction. However, it was found that social media helps provide multiple communication outlets in the relationship. Qualitative findings show that there are common themes reported from participants. This study provides a foundation for further research in the field of social media use in geographically distant relationships. Keywords: Social Media, Satisfaction; Geographically Distant Relationships; Social Exchange Theory; Face-to-Face Interactio