Technology in Relationships

Researchers at Brigham Young University recently found heavy texting to be associated with relationship dissatisfaction among both men and women. The researchers studied the texting habits of 276 adults between the ages of 18 and 25 (38 percent were in a serious relationship, 46 percent were engaged and 16 percent were married), and had them fill out an extensive relationships assessment questionnaire, which included questions about the role of technology in their love lives. The researchers found that using text messages as a way to apologize, settle disagreements or make decisions was associated with lower relationship quality for women. For men, lower relationship quality was correlated with texting too frequently. Of course, texting has become a central part of many couples' relationships, with 82 percent of couples reporting that they texted multiple times per day. And it's not all bad: expressing affection via text was found to actually enhance relationships. In short, no one can really point the finger at what about technology is good in relationships and what is not so conductive. With the increased use of video conferencing, traveling doesn't seem so far away. Any thoughts?