In Channels of Computer-Mediated Communication and Satisfaction in Long-Distance Relationships, Hampton et al. investigate how communication technologies can aid couples involved in geographically “far” long distance relationships (LDRs). Results indicate that “the frequency of utilizing various channels of communication was associated with relationship satisfaction and communication satisfaction” (171).
Hampton et al. begins the article by discussing a variety of theoretical perspectives which address the pros and cons of various computer-mediated communication methods, including the media richness theory, the social information processing theory and the hyperpersonal model of CMC. While these theories all differ in specifics, they “converge on the notion that communication in certain mediums, even if minimal in its richness, is just as important in LDRs as it is in geographically-close relationships” (173).
The authors’ goal of the study was to describe the current modes of communication most commonly used in LDRs, and to analyze how the frequency at which one uses these channels correlates to relationship satisfaction. Results indicated that both Skype and “picture messaging” were positively correlated with communication satisfaction, which suggests that “video chatting may be the best route in maintaining relationship and communication satisfaction in long-distance relationships” (178). It is clear that visual communication seems to be extremely effective in emulating an in-person, geographically-close relationship.
These findings make a lot of sense to me. Whenever I am trying to maintain long-distance friendships, FaceTime is my go-to. While texting is convenient in that both parties don’t need to be available at the exact same time, there is something more personal about being able to see the face of the person you’re speaking to, and to see their reactions in real time. Many times when I FaceTime friends, we ultimately just end up sitting in silence as we do other things, almost forgetting that the other person is even on the line. While it sounds odd, there is something comforting about this. Though we may not always have something exciting to share, simply being able to see each other on-screen makes it feel as though we are in the same room. Communicating verbally via video chat also allows for much more extensive conversations than texting ever could.
Given that this study was conducted in 2018, I’d be curious to see where Zoom falls into the picture. Skype seems somewhat obsolete these days. I wonder if all “video chatting” technologies have the same impact, or if certain differentiating features between Zoom, FaceTime and Skype have different effects in terms of relationship satisfaction. I’d also be interested in seeing how time differences play a role. Many LDR couples are located in different time zones, so carving out the time to chat face-to-face could be tricky. It would be cool to see if these couples similarly value video chat, or if they rely on other methods as a way to stay in touch. In terms of logistics, I liked that the study included a wide age range of participants spanning 18-62 years old. This inclusive demographic definitely makes the results more valid. Even so, it was odd to me that the initial sample consisted of 879 participants, which then was weeded down to 588, which then became a final sample of 183. I can’t help but wonder whether there was something weird about the questions asked that would make so many members of the initial sample drop out.
Hi Jamie, I read the same study and seemed to have similar takeaways based on the methods and findings. I also found the participant collection and final participation group fairly odd, which I think has to do with using Reddit to collect them. There are fairly specific people who use Reddit on a daily basis, so I wonder if these results were impacted by the niche participant group. Additionally, I can certainly relate to your personal experiences with technology channels like Facetime. My boyfriend and I spent two months long-distance this summer, and Facetime was the key to maintaining good relationship satisfaction. It was definitely difficult finding common times to talk, since he was in Israel and I was in the United States, but it felt like a necessary part of keeping a healthy relationship. We also utilized a photo app that would place photos of us on each other’s homescreen throughout the day. This was a fun way to see each other’s face and daily activities without constantly having to text about it. Overall, I think that this study captured good insight on past technologies and similar insights could be said about the most popular forms of technology today.
It is interesting to see that video chatting, whether it be FaceTime, Snapchat video, or Zoom, seem to be the best replication of face-to-face contact to sustain long-distance relationships with the use of social media, so it seems to be the most successful form of maintaining connection via social media when geographically far apart. It also makes total sense that relationship satisfaction leads to increased communication via social media because we all want to invest more time in what energizes us, which would include satisfying, exciting relationships. The visual communication aspect of FaceTime is likely important because it reminds us not to forget how much we appreciate in-person interaction with a significant other. I agree with what you said here, because video chat allows for far more self-expression of facial expressions, gestures, voice and other aspects of in-person conversation that text messaging does not allow. We have extended abilities granted through FaceTime and this should be taken full advantage of when families and friends are forced to be geographically distant.