Date Available
7-1-2021
Year of Publication
2021
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Family Sciences (MSFS)
College
Agriculture, Food and Environment
Department/School/Program
Family Sciences
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.
Recommended Citation
Kidwell, Morgann, "Sexual Expression and Self-Confidence in Long-Distance Relationships" (2021). Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences. 93.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/hes_etds/93
