Strengthening relationships through a digital connection

Date

2021-08

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Abstract

Technology adoption into the lives of individuals and couples continues to accelerate at an unprecedented rate. This has resulted in researchers’ increased attention to the influences technology has on individuals and relationships. Committed couple relationships have been of particular interest among some researchers. Although early research has attempted to quantify the overall influence technology has on couple relationships it has failed to do so in a way that is representative of both enhancing and detracting relational associations. This has led to some confusion and ambiguity within the literature that is marred by mixed results and no clear consensus about the influence technology has on couple relationships. The present study addresses this ambiguity with the development of a process model that explains: (1) How couples navigate the integration of technology into their lives/relationship in ways that avoid or mitigate unhelpful impacts of technology while simultaneously promoting technology use that is helpful to the relationship, and (2) How couples use technology to enhance or in ways that are helpful to their relationship. The present study used a combination of secondary (n = 25) and primary (n = 20) data (N = 45) collected from couple participants through dyadic interviews. Employing a constructivist lens, the grounded theory process model illustrates how couples utilize both individual and shared technology use, to promote a sense of unity and emotional connection within their relationship by engaging in thoughts and behaviors aimed at managing technology’s influence in their committed couple relationships. Limitations and implications are discussed.

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Keywords

Couple Relationships, Technology, Human-Computer Interaction, Emotional Connection, Couple Therapy

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