MEDIATED-COMMUNICATION IN LONG-DISTANCE AND GEOGRAPHICALLY-CLOSE ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS AND ITS EFFECTS ON IDEALIZATION, IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT, AND RELATIONSHIP SATISFACTION

Romantic idealization and relationship satisfaction has been found to be greater in long- distance romantic relationships (LDRs) than geographically-close romantic relationships (GCRs). This study aims to reestablish this link as well as to provide evidence of impression management as a possible explanation for this relation. Prior research has found that long-distance couples put off conflict in their interactions as a means to maximize the positive nature of their time together. This finding provides some insight on why the use of impression management may be more frequent among these couples. Additionally, we also hypothesize that greater technology use may contribute to both more and selective use of impression management and selective self- presentation among couples in a LDR. Social information processing theory predicts that because owing to of the asynchronous mode of much many forms of technology- mediated communication and the absence of non-verbal cues, impression management and selective presentation behaviors are more easily achieved using these communication channels, . This, so because positive impression management is more easily achieved, these couples in LDRs could maintain idealization for longer periods of time. FurthermoreFinally, this study aims to establish that couples in GCRs who engage in higher levels of technology use may also engage in more impression management in their relationships. Although, tentative, this could possibly lead to greater idealization in GCRs as well