Date Available

7-1-2021

Year of Publication

2021

Degree Name

Master of Science in Family Sciences (MSFS)

Document Type

Master's Thesis

College

Agriculture, Food and Environment

Department/School/Program

Family Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Jason Hans

Abstract

Little is known about the impact of distance on sexual expression and self-confidence in long-distance relationships, especially as mediated by technology. The purpose of the present study is to investigate how sexual expression and self-confidence vary in romantic relationships between those in long- versus short-distance relationships. Data from 327 participants—156 in long-distance relationships and 171 in short-distance relationships—were collected via Amazon MTurk. Results indicate that forms of technology-mediated sexual expression are widely used in long-distance relationships. Technology-mediated sexual expression is positively associated with sexual satisfaction in both long- and short-distance relationships; however, technology-mediated sexual expression was not statistically associated with self-confidence, and self-confidence was negatively predictive of self-uncertainty and partner uncertainty, and self-uncertainty and partner uncertainty was positively predictive of relational uncertainty. These results indicate that technology is an important tool that can be utilized for sexual expression in long-distance relationships, but the negative association of its use with self-confidence needs to be better understood.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2021.234

Funding Information

This study was supported by the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment Richards Graduate Student Research Award and John I & Patricia J Buster Fellowship in 2020.

Share

COinS