University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 2005 Influence of attachment dimensions on elationalr maintenance behaviors in long-distance versus geographically close romantic relationships. Jian Yang The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Yang, Jian, "Influence of attachment dimensions on elationalr maintenance behaviors in long-distance versus geographically close romantic relationships." (2005). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 5465. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/5465 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. 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Maureen and Mike MANSFIELD LIBRARY The University of Montana Permission is granted by the author to reproduce this material in its entirety, provided that this material is used for scholarly purposes and is properly cited in published works and reports. :*Please check "Yes" or "No" and provide signature ** Yes, I grant permission ^ No, I do not grant permission _________ Author's Signature: /e < A n q Date: 'Z ^ b ________ __ Any copying for commercial purposes or financial gain may be undertaken only with the author's explicit consent. 8/98 INFLUENCE OF ATTACHMENT DIMENSIONS ON RELATIONAL MAINTENANCE BEHAVIORS IN LONG-DISTANCE VERSUS ' GEOGRAPHICALLY CLOSE ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS by Jian Yang B.A. Beijing University, China, 2002 presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts The University of Montana May 2005 Approved by: !lmkpersoi Dean, Graduate School S - 7_0> -O S ' Date UMI Number: EP40929 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Dissertation Publishing UMI EP40929 Published by ProQuest LLC (2014). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Yang, Jian. M.A., May 2005 Communication Studies Influence of Attachment Dimensions on Relational Maintenance Behaviors in Long- Distance versus Geographically Close Romantic Relationships Chairperson: Dr. Stephen M. Yoshimura^i/^ This study examines how attachment dimensions influence people’s maintenance behaviors in long-distance romantic relationships versus geographically close romantic relationships. The findings first showed that partners in long-distance romantic relationships reported a higher level of relationship as secondary and more frequent use of social networks than partners in geographically close romantic relationships. The findings also indicated that lack of confidence was negatively associated with openness, conflict management, shared tasks, and social networks in long-distance relationships; however in geographically close relationships, lack o f confidence was negatively associated with giving advice only. At the same time, relationship as secondary was negatively associated with openness only in long-distance romantic relationships; yet in geographically close relationships, relationship as secondary was negatively associated with assurance, openness, shared tasks, and positivity. What could be inferred from the above findings is, in terms of attachment styles, fearful avoidants and preoccupieds would be significantly associated with lower use of maintenance behaviors in long­ distance romantic relationships than in geographically close relationships. At the same time, dismissives would use less openness in long-distance romantic relationships, and less assurance, openness, shared tasks, and positivity in geographically close relationships. In general, the findings suggested that maintenance behaviors in long­ distance romantic relationships was more strongly predicted by lack o f confidence, and maintenance behaviors in geographically close romantic relationships were more strongly predicted by relationship as secondary. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are many people I would like to thank after completing this two-year study. First of all, to my committee members, Dr. Steve Yoshimura, Dr. Alan Sillars, and Dr. Lynne Koester: I am deeply grateful for the time and expertise each of you brought to my thesis. Steve, I am so privileged to have you as my main thesis advisor. Thank you for leading me through the thesis writing process and helping me face challenges rising from each stage of the process. Thank you for the enormous time and effort you put in reading my work and mentoring my writing. Thanks also for offering valuable advice on my career path and recommending me into the top ranking communication studies PhD program at Arizona State University. Alan, it was a privilege to work with you. I always felt cared for and challenged under your guidance. Lynne, I could not have asked for a more insightful outside department advisor. To Shiv, our director of graduate studies: thanks for pointing out a clear path for graduate studies at the right beginning, constantly checking to make sure I am on the right track, and offering helpful suggestions whenever I needed. To my graduate school fellow colleagues: Andrea, Clair, Phil, Chao, Steph, Basem, and all others who generously offered opportunities for me to conduct surveys in their classes. Thank you all for your interest in my research, your encouragement and inspiration. I will remember the chatting, laughing, and the delicious candies, cookies, brownies that were always there in the grad office. To Leah Morris, graduate instructor in Psychology Department: thank you for generously offering your class time to distribute my surveys. Your class was such a great help for me. To my friends in Missoula: Maosheng and Qiaozhen, Steve and Edna, Jian, Xianping, and all other friends in town who shared their lives with me and took care of me when I was away from home. Thank you for being in my life at this time. I learned profound lessons from you. To my folks at home: mom, dad, and my brother who cared about my graduate study and thesis as much as I did. Mom, although you were not familiar with what happened thousands of miles away with people speaking a different language, you always had a keen understanding of all my highs and lows, all my endeavor, happiness, or frustration. Last but not least, to my dear husband, Xianfang: our relationship was the original source of my thesis. Although there are thousands of miles between us, I always feel we are side by side (especially after you found the software Skype - CMC works!). Thanks for all your support, comfort, push, encouragement, understanding, morning calls, valentine card, and what’s more, love. You are my source of strength. Introduction Long-distance romantic relationships are not uncommon in the United States. Romantic partners may have long-distance relationships for a variety of reasons, such as educational and career pursuits, military deployment, or economic concerns. However, compared to geographically close romantic relationships, long-distance romantic relationships have not gained much research attention. Therefore, it is both theoretically and practically important to address communication issues related to long-distance romantic relationships. This study examines how attachment dimensions influence people’s maintenance behaviors in long-distance romantic relationships versus geographically close romantic relationships. The study aims to find out if relational partners report any difference in terms of attachment dimensions and maintenance behaviors in the two relationship types, and provide an explanation of the association between attachment dimensions and maintenance behaviors in the two relationship types. This study first reviews the development and major issues within research on attachment theory, relational maintenance behaviors, and long-distance romantic relationships. Then the study synthesizes the above literature and proposes specific hypotheses and research questions concerning attachment dimension, maintenance behaviors, and their association in the two relationship types. Finally, a quantitative study using questionnaires is conducted to test the hypotheses and answer the research questions. 1 Literature Review Long-Distance Romantic Relationships and Attachment Theory Although long-distance relationships are not the norm of relating in today’s society, they are increasing in frequency (Sahlstein, 2004). Stafford and Reske (1990) suggested that as many as one-third of all college dating relationships may occur over long-distance. Dellman-Jenkins, Bemard-Paolucci, and Rushing (1994) reported that 43.2% of their college dating couple sample was in a long-distance relationship. More recently, Stafford, Merolla, and Castle (2004, as cited in Stafford, 2004) estimated that. long-distance dating relationships might be as prevalent on college