Social Network Disclosure in Romantic Relationships: Associations with Approval and Commitment
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2008
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Haverford College. Department of Psychology
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Award
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eng
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Open Access
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Abstract
Past romantic relationship research has focused on disclosure, perceived approval, and commitment to the romantic relationship. Our current study examined these same relationship factors but with an emphasis on which specific disclosure items were being revealed to which specific social network members (i.e. fathers, mothers, and friends). Through the use of electronically administered inventories completed by 188 college-aged participants, our work demonstrated that social network disclosure significantly predicts perceived levels of approval from social network members and that perceived level of approval is positively associated with commitment level to the romantic relationship. Additionally, significant interactions were found among the sex of the partner in the romantic relationship and their disclosure to male and female social network members. Males were found to disclose more to their male friends and to their fathers than females, while females were found to disclose more to their female friends and to their mothers than males. Findings also indicated that, regardless of sex, individuals disclose more about their romantic relationships to their closest friend than to their parents. Overall, the results support that college-aged individuals have different relationships with their parents than with their closest friend in terms of disclosing information about their romantic relationships.