Constructing Shared “Space”: Meaningfulness in Long-Distance Romantic Relationship Communication Formats.

Via analysis of online survey data of 262 people aged 18 to 70 in the United States who have been involved in a long-distance romantic relationship (LDR) since 2005, we investigate how paper, audio, visual, and digital communication formats may be used and viewed as differentially meaningful. While in most intimate relationships, digital formats such as e-mail, messaging, and texts are frequently used, LDR couples are more likely to use and find most meaningful video chat and audio platforms compared with paper or digital formats. The reason for each platform’s meaningfulness varies according to survey respondents’ subjective understandings. Audio and visual formats are seen as meaningful because they offer intimacy, paper formats offer thoughtfulness, and digital formats offer ease as well as thoughtfulness. This research contributes to understanding the subjectively constructed meaning of ever-changing communication platforms, as well as definitions of shared sociomental spaces, for couples who are geographically separated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]