Are you having relationship problems? Your smartphone could be a cause, according to a new study.
We all know that constant texting, or more generally, constant contact with your phone, can be a major source of frustration and dissatisfaction if it happens in the long term, in serious relationships. Researchers from Brigham Young University recently discovered that too much texting leads to relationship dissatisfaction between men and women. The researchers studied the habits of 276 adults between the ages of 18 and 25. 38% of them were in a serious relationship, 46% were in a relationship, and 16% were married. The people who took part in the study had to fill out an extensive relationship assessment questionnaire, which included questions about the role of technology in their lives and their relationships.
The researchers found that using texting as a way to apologize, resolve disagreements, or make decisions was associated with lower relationship quality for women. For men, lower relationship quality was associated with frequent texting use.
Of course, texting has become a central part of many couples' relationships, with 82% reporting sending each other multiple messages a day. Of course, that's not necessarily a bad thing: It's a way of expressing yourself that's been found to actually strengthen relationships.
“Technology seems to be more important to the relationship than it was in the past,” says BYU researcher Lori Schade.
However, the results of the research seem to be less encouraging if couples use text messages for "relationship maintenance" conversations, that is, for solving problems or other serious issues.
If a couple has long conversations via text messages, it could potentially inhibit the level of emotional connection in a relationship, as face-to-face conversations are interrupted and become digital.
“The response to disappointment occurs more quickly in face-to-face communication,” says researcher Jonathan Sandberg.
But this culture is doing more harm to our lives and our relationships. The majority of young people feel that constant connectivity has a negative cost in their lives and relationships: According to a recent Intel survey, over 60% of young people who use technology admit that their behavior can be inhumane.
However, the same survey found that 70% of young people say technology improves their relationships. The key, it seems, is finding the right balance.
The article was published in the Huffington Post
