Changing facebook profile pictures to dyadic photos: Positive association with romantic partners' relationship satisfaction via perceived partner commitment. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ito, Kenichi; Yang, Shanshan; Li, Liman Man Wai
• Is Part Of: Computers in human behavior. Volume 120(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: Facebook -- Relationship awareness -- Perceived partner commitment -- Relationship satisfaction -- Romantic relationship; Interactive computer systems -- Periodicals; Man-machine systems -- Periodicals; 004.019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2021.106748
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0747-5632

Abstract

Abstract: Facebook is a prevalent SNS platform used to express satisfaction in a romantic relationship. However, specific functions of Facebook that foster relationship satisfaction and the underlying mechanism of how the Facebook usage is perceived by a partner require further investigation. Relationship awareness, or paying attention to one's romantic relationship and interaction patterns within a romantic relationship, may be a key determinant of satisfaction in a romantic relationship between Facebook users. Past research focused on the effect of cues that signal relationship awareness to one's partner during face-to-face interactions. Extending the existing literature, we focused on how a partner perceives relationship awareness cues expressed on Facebook. We found a positive impact of different relationship awareness cues on Facebook on relationship satisfaction and a mediating role of the perception of a partner's commitment. When imagining a partner's Facebook page that showed faithful acts such as uploading a dyadic photo and removing a personal photo, participants expected high commitment from a partner, which, in turn, predicted high relationship satisfaction. Our findings offer specific ways to communicate with a romantic partner through Facebook to foster satisfaction in a relationship. We also discuss the importance of highlighting online communication as behavioral cues. Highlights: Profile pictures, relationship status, and tagging indicate relationship awareness. Removing dyadic profile pictures to personal ones decreased the satisfaction. Relationship awareness on Facebook increases a partner's relationship satisfaction. Perceived partner's commitment explains the effect of relationship awareness.