Does Social Media Help or Hurt Relationships?
Have you and a partner ever fought about Internet use?
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Why is it that some couples happily and openly share and view each other’s social media statuses, while others find this very difficult? Do we use social media to get to know each other better, or does it just fuel our suspicion?
There is much research evidence to suggest that excessive use of the Internet by one partner in a relationship can negatively affect relationship quality. Kerkhof, Finkenauer and Muusses reported (2011) that in relationships where there was excessive Internet use by one partner, there was also more partner conflict. The reason might be due to one partner feeling excluded by the other's excessive time online. Or it could be that excessive Internet use may be perceived as a gesture of concealment or an inability to share.
A recent study by Clayton, Nagurney, & Smith (2013) explores whether use of Facebook can result in negative relationship outcomes. The researchers hypothesized that excessive Facebook use by one partner may be detrimental to a relationship, resulting in "Facebook-related conflict."
The study measured:
- Facebook Usage—how often an individual used Facebook and how often they viewed their friends’ profiles.
- Facebook-Related Conflict—whether Facebook use makes relationship complications more likely between intimate partners, examined by questions such as, "How often do you have an argument with your partner as a result of Facebook use or viewing the profiles of your friends?"
- Negative Relationship Outcomes—whether Facebook use can have an effect on the propensity for infidelity or relationship dissolution, assessed with questions such as, "Have you cheated on your partner with someone through whom you have connected with Facebook?"
The participants in the study were 205 Facebook users, 144 of whom reported being currently in a romantic relationship. Consistent with previous research, it was found that there was a correlation between Facebook use and Facebook-related conflict. Further, it was found that there was a relationship between Facebook-related conflict and negative relationship outcomes.
Is relationship length a factor?
Clayton, et al (2013) then examined the length of time the people in their study had been in a relationship. Those who reported being in a relationship for 36 months or less were placed in the shorter relationship group; those who had been in a relationship for longer than 36 months were placed in the longer relationship group. For the shorter length group, Facebook usage predicted Facebook-related conflict, which in turn predicted negative relationship outcomes. For the longer length relationship group, however, there was no correlation between any of the measures used.
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Facebook, then, seems to be an issue solely for those in newer relationships: The same findings did not hold for those in relationships of longer than 3 years. Only people who had been in relationships for 3 years or less experienced negative relationship outcomes as a result of Facebook-related conflict.
An earlier study by Elphinston & Noller (2011), which examined Facebook use by people in relationships, found that Facebook surveillance behavior by either partner was related to relationship dissatisfaction. Furthermore, Tokunaga (2011) noted that online surveillance strategies are more likely to be used by younger individuals, who may have been in shorter relationships. While it could be argued that Facebook surveillance may be used to get to know a new partner better, it can equally be possible that Facebook surveillance might provoke feelings of romantic jealousy, especially when the information posted is ambiguous.
Overall, then, it appears that because relationships of 3 years and under may be undeveloped to some extent, partners experience a greater amount of suspicion as a result of the other’s Facebook use. There are other factors to consider, however, such aspersonality type and self-esteem, which probably also play a part in Facebook-related conflict.
References
- Clayton, R. B., Nagurney, A., & Smith, J. R. (2013) Cheating, Breakup, andDivorce: Is Facebook Use to Blame? Cyberpsychology, behaviour and Social Networking, 16(10), 717-720.
- Elphinston, R.A. & Noller P. (2011) Time to face it! Facebook intrusion and the implications for romantic jealousy and relationship satisfaction. CyberPsychology, Behavior, & Social Networking, 14, 631–5.
- Kerkhof P, Finkenauer C, & Muusses L.D. (2011) Relational consequences of compulsive Internet use: a longitudinal study among newlyweds. Human Communication Research, 37, 147–73.
- Tokunaga, R.S. (2011) Social networking site or social surveillance site?Understanding the use of interpersonal electronic surveillance in romantic relationships. Computers in Human Behaviour, 27,705–13.
IV: The amount of time spent on Facebook. Ratio
ReplyDeleteDV: Whether or not the relationship has any negative aspects. Nominal
The major aspect of this study that I find most interesting is how the researchers also factor in the amount of time the couple has been together in order to prove their findings that Facebook does lead to negativity in the relationship. This study however does have its flaws. In order to conclude whether or not a relationship is negatively effected by social media, the researchers needed to pull from a larger group then 205 people. That only represents an extremely small portion of people who use Facebook who are also in relationships. For example, I could say that I never had any problems with a significant other because of Facebook related issues. I represent and extremely small portion of the population. If there were three other people also polled with me and they all answered that Facebook does cause problems, then the study would be an inaccurate representation of the whole.
IV: Amount of time spent on Facebook by someone in a relationship
ReplyDeleteLevel of Measurement: Ratio
DV: Facebook-related conflict in said relationship
Level of Measurement: Categorical
This study wouldn't ring true with my own experiences, but I think the study still holds weight. Too me, a relationship isn't healthy if a person is obsessively checking up on their partner through their social media. I'm luckily that I've never dated someone like that, but I do think that that behavior exists, especially in young couples. I also have never had much Facebook drama in my life, so I don't think I'm the ideal target for this study.
Anecdotal evidence should not always be trusted when conducting research because the experiences of one person can't always represent the majority. In order for anecdotal evidence to be accepted the pool needs to be quite large to get a more accurate depiction of what is being studied. Without it, one person's experience might be taken as a universal statement for all.
IV: Amount of time spent by an individual in a relationship on Facebook
ReplyDeleteLevel of Measurement: Ratio
DV: Negative aspects of relationship related to Facebook
Level of Measurement: Categorical
This study I have seen way too often in my own personal life and my friend’s personal lives. Social networking sites like Facebook make it so easy to find out what people are up to. In a way it plays into our obsessions and ultimately leads to our downfalls in relationships. These days nothing is private and nothing is left up to mystery. I also think anecdotal evidence cannot be fully trusted because not everyone experiences the same things. Everyone is different. It is really hard to anecdotal evidence to be trusted.