This study investigates the influence of copresent smartphone use and presence on conflict interactions. Sixty-four dating couples (N = 128) completed one 10-minute in-person serial argument conversation. Dyads were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (a) smartphones absent, (b) smartphone used by one participant, or (c) smartphone present but not used. Results indicate that copresent smartphone use - but not the presence of an unused smartphone - during conflict is more dissatisfying than conflict conversations absent of smartphones overall and at one-minute measurements. Also, perceived technological interference - but not the amount of phone use - was associated with lower ratings of conversation satisfaction. These findings suggest that copresent smartphone use is more problematic than smartphone presence, and perceptions of smartphone use may explain how and why copresent smartphone use may erode conversation quality.

The COVID-19 pandemic upended home life for couples across the globe. Many couples faced increased relational uncertainty and interference from a partner as a result of stay at home and lockdown orders. This study uses relational turbulence theory to examine how (a) relational uncertainty and (b) partner interdependence are associated with cognitions and emotions about needing space conversations with a partner. We examine links between perceptions of needing space conversations and relational turbulence. In the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, 609 adults in a romantic relationship from 29 countries completed an online survey. Relationship uncertainty was negatively associated with relational cognitions (i.e., solidarity and intimacy), and interference from a partner was associated with more intense hopeful feelings about needing space conversations. Relational cognitions were associated with reduced relational turbulence, and hope was associated with higher relational turbulence. Theoretical implications for relational turbulence theory and practical implications for couples are discussed.

This study extends research examining the presence of mobile phones during interpersonal interactions into the context of serial arguments between dating couples. Fifty-eight dating couples (N = 116) had two 10-minute face-to-face serial argument conversations in a laboratory-controlled experiment when technology was either present or absent. The most salient findings were consistent with longstanding findings in the conflict literature: positive communication was associated positively with desirable outcomes (conversational satisfaction, perceived resolvability, and conversation effectiveness) whereas negative behaviors were inversely related to desirable conflict outcomes. Overall, results showed little evidence that the presence of a participant’s smartphone affected the quality of serial argument conversations, but biological sex moderated the impact of technology on conversation satisfaction and perceived conversation effectiveness, such that technology presence negatively impacted women more than men. These findings suggest that the presence of mobile phones does not fundamentally alter effective conflict engagement in general, but there are likely circumstances in which the presence of mobile phones is important.

The goal of this study was to explore the positive association between concern related to COVID-19 and single individuals’ perceived changes to their partner preferences. In addition, we investigated the mediating role of fear of being single. Results indicated that people with greater COVID-19 concern perceived an increase in the importance of stability, family commitment, and physical/social attractiveness, as well as fear of being single. Fear of being single only negatively predicted the importance of physical/social attractiveness, whereas it positively predicted the importance of stability and family commitment. Thus, in most cases, people with a greater concern for COVID-19 perceived themselves to become more selective, even when they exhibit higher levels of fear of being single.

This study examined associations between parents' and young adults' communication competence in the contexts of face-to-face (FtF) and technologically mediated communication (TMC). We investigated the role of family communication patterns in parental socialization of communication competence. In our investigation, we focused on two distinct aspects of communication competence: effectiveness and appropriateness. Analyzing self-report data of 104 parent-child dyads, we found that parents' self-reported FtF communication appropriateness was directly associated with children's self-reported FtF and TMC appropriateness. Children's reports of conversation orientation were positively associated with their self-reported FtF and TMC effectiveness. Additionally, parents' reports of conformity orientation were positively linked to children's self-reported FtF communication appropriateness. These findings suggest that parental influences may manifest through different mechanisms for children's communication effectiveness and appropriateness. Further, parents and family communication play important roles in children's development of communication competence not only in FtF interactions, but also in TMC interactions.

Employing the communicative interdependence perspective (CIP), the current study examined the interconnection and transition between technologically mediated communication (TMC) and face-to-face (FtF) communication in long-distance dating relationships (LDDRs). College students in LDDRs (N = 200) completed an online survey. Results showed that segmentation to TMC was negatively associated with relational closeness and relationship satisfaction. Difficulty transitioning between TMC and FtF communication was negatively associated with relationship satisfaction. Further, LDDR partners' FtF communication frequency moderated the associations between segmentation to TMC and the two relational markers. Findings' implications for relational maintenance in LDDRs and CIP are discussed.

A textual relationship is defined as a relationship where intimacy with a partner is primarily sustained through text messaging. In a textual relationship, face-to-face (FtF) contact rarely, if ever, occurs. This study examines the quality of textual relationships and reasons for restricting communication to text-based channels. Participants completed an online survey about both a recently developed textual and a FtF relationship. Results indicate that the quality of participants’ FtF relationships surpassed that of their textual relationships; their texting relationships, however, were still generally above the scale midpoints for relational quality. Further, the effect of relationship type on relational quality was somewhat diminished for participants in long-term textual relationships.

Utilizing communication theory of identity, this study examined identity gaps in relation to grandparents’ (GPs') and their young adult grandchildren's (GC's) communication satisfaction and, in turn, perceptions of GC’s caregiving intentions. Actor–partner interdependence models were examined with path analyses, using self-reported, cross-sectional survey data from GPs and GC (200 dyads). In regard to actor effects, as GPs and GC experienced identity gaps, they were less likely to report communication satisfaction. With lower levels of communication satisfaction, GPs were less likely to believe their GC would provide care for them in the future and GC had weaker intentions to provide care in the future. For partner effects, GP identity gaps were indirectly associated with grandchild caregiving intentions through either GP or GC communication satisfaction. By contrast, GC identity gaps were not significantly indirectly associated with GP perceptions of GC caregiving intentions through either GP or GC communication satisfaction.

In response to scholars who recommend additional research concerning the role of communication technologies in relational conflict, we employ the communicative interdependence perspective (Caughlin & Sharabi, 2013) to explore mode integration and segmentation during serial arguments. More specifically, we found that technologically-mediated communication (TMC) and face-to-face (FtF) communication are commonly integrated during serial arguments. Mode integration was especially likely when serial arguments were seen as serious, relationally threatening, and less resolvable. Yet, integration of TMC and FtF communication and integration of multiple TMC channels during serial arguments were negatively associated with relational closeness and satisfaction for dating partners. Segmentation to one mode was rare and was not associated with relational satisfaction or closeness. We discuss the implications of these findings for the communicative interdependence perspective and our understanding of serial arguments in relationships.