Abstract
ABSTRACT Previous research has suggested that Facebook use can lead to adverse romantic relationship outcomes due to interpersonal conflicts, interactions with potential romantic alternatives, and jealousy. However, these associations have been explored mainly with undergraduates, focusing primarily on conflict rather than emotional disengagement. The current study examined the associations between Facebook addiction and marital disaffection (e.g., loss of love, emotional disengagement) amongst 138 (95 females and 43 males) cohabiting married Facebook users residing in the United States. The results revealed that Facebook addiction and marital disaffection were positively related, even after controlling for relationship commitment. Additionally, greater relationship commitment weakened the association between Facebook addiction and marital disaffection. There are likely multiple explanations for the current findings; however, results suggest that higher levels of relationship commitment may protect spouses against the negative relationship outcomes associated with Facebook addiction. Future longitudinal work with couples is needed to clarify the directionality of the relationship between Facebook addiction and marital disaffection.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-26-2019
Publication Title
The American Journal of Family Therapy
First Page
120
Last Page
136
Recommended Citation
Abbasi, Irum Saeed; Drouin, Michelle; Dibble, Jayson L.; and McDaniel, Brandon T. PhD, "The protective influence of relationship commitment on the effects of Facebook addiction on marital disaffection" (2019). Health Services and Informatics Research. 48.
https://researchrepository.parkviewhealth.org/informatics/48