Texting,sexting, and attachment in college students’ romantic relationships

In this study, we explored how texting and sexting practices are related to attachment in college students’ (n = 744) committed romantic relationships. Participants completed a survey containing questions about their texting and sexting practices and attachment styles with relationship partners. Results showed that texting and sexting are relatively common in young adult romantic relationships, and texting and sexting are both significantly related to attachment style. However, whereas text messaging was more common among those with secure attachments (i.e., those with less attachment avoidance), sexting (both texts and pictures) was more common among those with insecure attachments, particularly those with higher attachment avoidance. Whereas anxious attachment predicted variance in sending sex text messages only, attachment avoidance contributed unique variance in sending both sex texts and pictures. This relationship was moderated by gender—avoidant men were more likely than avoidant women to send sex text and picture messages to relationship partners.     

Young adults’ use of communication technology within their romantic relationships and associations with attachment style

In an online survey with two cohorts (2009 and 2011) of undergraduates in dating relationships, we examined how attachment was related to communication technology use within romantic relationships. Participants reported on their attachment style and frequency of in-person communication as well as phone, text messaging, social network site (SNS), and electronic mail usage with partners. Texting and SNS communication were more frequent in 2011 than 2009. Attachment avoidance was related to less frequent phone use and texting, and greater email usage. Electronic communication channels (phone and texting) were related to positive relationship qualities, however, once accounting for attachment, only moderated effects were found. Interactions indicated texting was linked to more positive relationships for highly avoidant (but not less avoidant) participants. Additionally, email use was linked to more conflict for highly avoidant (but not less avoidant) participants. Finally, greater use of a SNS was positively associated with intimacy/support for those higher (but not lower) on attachment anxiety. This study illustrates how attachment can help to explain why the use of specific technology-based communication channels within romantic relationships may mean different things to different people, and that certain channels may be especially relevant in meeting insecurely attached individuals’ needs.     

Uses of cellphone texting: An integration of motivations,usage patterns,and psychological outcomes

This study suggests an integrated model that explains the associations among motivations for using cellphone texting, usage patterns, and psychological consequences. Using data from an online survey (N = 335), the study identified motivations of communication with strong ties and weak ties, which were found to be associated with different usage patterns of cellphone texting. Further, time spent on cellphone texting was negatively associated with relationship satisfaction, while the number of text messages sent and received was associated with reduced feelings of loneliness through higher levels of perceived intimacy and relationship satisfaction.     

College students' cell phone use and attachment to parents and peers

College students spend hours each day using their cell phones. A common motivation for this behavior is the maintenance of social relations. Yet depending on cell phone use behavior, cell phone use could potentially strengthen or weaken social relations. We investigated this possibility with a survey (N = 493) assessing students' perceptions of important social relations (i.e., Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment) and various cell phone use behaviors. The relationship between cell phone use and Parent Attachment was modeled with three regression equations, one for each Parent Attachment subscale (i.e., communication, trust, alienation). These subscales were the criterion variables. Each regression equation contained the same predictor variables: total daily cell phone use, calling, texting, and problematic use. Anxiety and self-esteem were control variables. The relationship between cell phone use and Peer Attachment was modeled similarly. Regression equations were estimated simultaneously using the Seemingly Unrelated Regression technique. For males: calling, texting and total daily use were not related to parent or peer attachment; problematic use was negatively related to parent and peer attachment. For females: calling was positively related to parental attachment and texting to peer attachment; problematic use was negatively related to parent and peer attachment. Implications are discussed.     

Development of a Continuous Usage Model for the Adoption and Continuous Usage of a Smartphone

This research focuses on identifying continuous usage intentions before and after the product adoption phase. A theoretical model was developed, specifying continuous usage intentions and user behavior throughout the product adoption life cycle. The proposed model considers users' characteristics, product quality, sociocultural factors, and continuous usage intention factors, which were obtained from previous studies related to technology acceptance models and continuous usage. The relationship between these factors was analyzed, hypotheses tests to verify the relationships were conducted, and the proposed model was confirmed. Quantitative data were collected using a survey targeted at smart phone users. Data analysis verified the continuous usage model using structural equation modeling. The results from before and after the product adoption phase showed that previous usage experience affects users' characteristics, perceived usefulness, and social factors. The data proved causality between user satisfaction, attachment, commitment, and continuous usage intention after the adoption phase. The relationship between the factors and the model itself was verified statistically, providing insight into the adoption–diffusion–usage perspective with regard to the interaction between user and high-tech product.     

“Love the Way You Lie”: Sexting deception in romantic relationships

In this study, we examined the prevalence of lying during sexting in a sample of 155 young adult college students. More than one third (37%) of those who had ever had a committed relationship and approximately half (48%) of active sexters (i.e., those who had ever sent a sexual text message) had lied to their committed partners during sexting about what they were wearing, doing, or both. Most people (67%) lied to serve their partner in some way (e.g., make it better for their partner) but some (33%) lied to serve themselves (e.g., they were bored). Additionally, lying during sexting was much more common among women than men: 45% of women and 24% of men had lied during sexting with committed partners. When attachment characteristics were considered, attachment avoidance predicted lying during sexting among active sexters, even after controlling for gender. Therefore, lying during sexting, just like pretending orgasm in a face-to-face context, is more likely to occur among those with insecure attachments to relationship partners. We discuss the similarities and differences between sexual deception in face-to-face and CMC contexts and propose future directions for this research.     

Texting while driving on automatic: Considering the frequency-independent side of habit

This study tested the potential of the frequency-independent components of habit, or automaticity, to predict the rate of texting while driving. A survey of 441 college students at a large American university was conducted utilizing a frequency-independent version of the experimentally validated Self-Report Habit Index (SRHI;  and ). Controlling for gender, age, and driver confidence, analyses showed that automatic texting tendencies predicted both sending and reading texts while driving. The findings suggest that texting while driving behavior may be partially attributable to individuals doing so without awareness, control, attention, and intention regarding their own actions. The unique contribution of automaticity explained more variance than overall individual usage, and remained significant even after accounting for norms, attitudes, and perceived behavioral control. The results demonstrate the importance of distinguishing the level of automaticity from behavioral frequency in mobile communication research. Future applications and implications for research are discussed.     

Performance of Traditional and Web-Based EDI

This article examines three categories of companies with regard to electronic data interchange (EDI) usage: (1) companies that use no EDI at all, (2) companies that use traditional EDI, and (3) companies that use Web-based EDI. Performance is examined for these three types of companies using the following dimensions: process cost; operational efficiency; customer satisfaction, coordination, cooperation, and commitment between EDI partners; and overall performance. Results show that companies using Web-based EDI experience superior performance in commitment between EDI partners as well as overall performance, while companies using Web-based or traditional EDI experience superior performance in internal operational efficiency as well as overall performance.     

Service Quality and Perceived Value's Impact on Satisfaction, Intention and Usage of Short Message Service (SMS)

SMS, being an almost instantaneous communication medium that connects people, is now a phenomenon that has grown and spread around the globe at an amazing speed. Given the current trend of SMS usage and its potential growth, this paper will provide an insight of the extent to which how service quality and the value perceived by the SMS users have an impact on their extent of the SMS usage in the post SMS adoption phase. Specifically, this article will examine how service quality of the service providers and perceived value affect customer satisfaction and how customer satisfaction will affect their behavioural intention to continue to use SMS which in turn affects the extent of SMS usage in the local context. Using partial-least-squares, an analysis was conducted based on the 150 surveys collected to test for the proposed relationships. The results showed that the tangibles, empathy and assurance dimensions of service quality are antecedents of customer satisfaction and a positive relationship exists between customer satisfaction and customers' behavioural intentions to continue to use SMS. Additionally, the positive relationship between customers' behavioural intentions to continue to use SMS and the extent of SMS usage is also significant. These results were similar to the results shown by Cronin and Taylor (1992) studies. The perceived value/customer satisfaction relationship investigated in this research was in line with Fornell et al.(1996) and Cronin et al.(2000) where perceived value was one of the determinants of customer satisfaction. Specially, the results revealed that perceived value, together with tangibles, empathy and assurance aspects of the service quality, played an important role in determining customer satisfaction for SMS. Implications of the above results for research and practice are discussed.     

“Sexting” and adult romantic attachment

“Sexting” refers to sending and receiving sexually suggestive images, videos, or texts on cell phones. As a means for maintaining or initiating a relationship, sexting behavior and attitudes may be understood through adult attachment theory. One hundred and twenty-eight participants (M = 22 and F = 106), aged 18-30 years, completed an online questionnaire about their adult attachment styles and sexting behavior and attitudes. Attachment anxiety predicted sending texts that solicit sexual activity for those individuals in relationships. Attachment anxiety also predicted positive attitudes towards sexting such as accepting it as normal, that it will enhance the relationship, and that partners will expect sexting. Sexting may be a novel form for expressing attachment anxiety.     

Do you have anything to hide? Infidelity-related behaviors on social media sites and marital satisfaction

Social media provides one route to behaviors that may be potentially harmful to romantic relationships, such as communicating with alternative partners, which can sometimes create relationship conflict, breakups, or divorce. Limited empirical evidence exists concerning social media infidelity-related behaviors and marital relationships. This study examined whether married/cohabiting individuals are using social media sites to engage in online infidelity-related behaviors and to what extent this related to relationship satisfaction, ambivalence, and relational attachment characteristics as reported by 338 married/cohabiting individuals from 176 families. Only a small percentage of married/cohabiting couples reported engaging in social media infidelity-related behaviors; however, more engagement in infidelity-related behaviors on social media was significantly related to lower relationship satisfaction, higher relationship ambivalence, and greater attachment avoidance and anxiety in both women and men. Additionally, attachment anxiety and gender interacted with relationship satisfaction in predicting online infidelity-related behaviors when controlling for other variables. Implications are discussed.     

Investigation and modeling of the structure of texting language

Language usage over computer mediated discourses, such as chats, emails and SMS texts, significantly differs from the standard form of the language and is referred to as texting language (TL). The presence of intentional misspellings significantly decrease the accuracy of existing spell checking techniques for TL words. In this work, we formally investigate the nature and type of compressions used in SMS texts, and develop a Hidden Markov Model based word-model for TL. The model parameters have been estimated through standard machine learning techniques from a word-aligned SMS and standard English parallel corpus. The accuracy of the model in correcting TL words is 57.7%, which is almost a threefold improvement over the performance of Aspell. The use of simple bigram language model results in a 35% reduction of the relative word level error rates.     

Twitter versus Facebook: Exploring the role of narcissism in the motives and usage of different social media platforms

The amount of research on social networking sites (SNS) and narcissism is accumulating quickly requiring greater levels of variable specification and more fine-tuned hypothesis testing to clearly determine the relationships among key variables. The current investigation examines two of the most popular SNS, Facebook and Twitter, formulating hypotheses around the specific features of each site within college and adult samples. Unlike previous research that has focused almost exclusively on SNS usage, we focused on active usage (i.e., SNS content generation) as opposed to passive usage (i.e., SNS consumption) and included reasons for usage as a potential black box in the narcissism to SNS usage relationship. Results suggest that the features of Twitter make tweeting the preferred means of active usage among narcissists in the college sample, but not the adult sample, who prefer Facebook. In fact, we found no significant direct or indirect relationship with active usage on Facebook for the college sample, calling into question popular press articles linking Millennial narcissism with Facebook use. Additionally platform differences (i.e., microblogging versus profile-based) may explain the importance of active usage on Twitter relative to Facebook. That is, with Twitter, narcissistic motives for usage all manifest through tweeting while Facebook provides other mechanisms to achieve narcissistic motives.     

Bounded Solidarity Confirmed? How Korean Immigrants' Mobile Communication Configures Their Social Networks

A hierarchical regression analysis of U.S.‐based Korean immigrants' mobile communication use (i.e., voice calling and texting) and their social network characteristics (i.e., network size, diversity, and centrality) revealed significant associations between texting with coethnic strong ties and network centrality within the ethnic community. Korean immigrants who texted frequently with both coethnic and host weak ties had larger networks. Network diversity was, however, associated only with voice calling with host ties (both strong and weak). These findings have implications for theories of bounded solidarity. Specifically, the results suggest that mobile communication is significantly associated with (a) denser social networks, and (b) an important and unique source of social capital embedded in immigrant communities.     

Understanding buyers' loyalty to a C2C platform: the roles of social capital,satisfaction and perceived effectiveness of e‐commerce institutional mechanisms

Drawing upon social capital theory, this study aims to investigate how different dimensions of social capital affect online buyers' satisfaction and ultimately boost their loyalty to a Consumer‐to‐Consumer (C2C) platform. Specifically, we propose that three dimensions of social capital (i.e., cognitive, structural and relational capital) contribute positively to the two types of online buyers' satisfaction (i.e., economic and social satisfaction). In addition, we posit that perceived effectiveness of e‐commerce institutional mechanisms (PEEIM) moderates the relationships between economic and social satisfaction and buyers' loyalty to the platform. Three hundred buyers on the Consumer‐to‐Consumer platform, TaoBao, were surveyed to test the proposed model. The results suggest that buyers' evaluation of social capital with the community of sellers can enhance their satisfaction with the sellers, which subsequently affect their loyalty to the platform. Furthermore, perceived effectiveness of e‐commerce institutional mechanisms negatively moderates the effect of economic satisfaction and positively moderates the effect of social satisfaction on buyers' loyalty to the platform. The theoretical contributions and practical implications are discussed.     

Ignore your partners’ current Facebook friends; beware the ones they add!

In this study, we examined two behaviors that could evoke Facebook jealousy and cause relationship problems among romantic partners: (1) Facebook solicitation behaviors (i.e., making or accepting friend requests with romantic interests) while in the current relationship, and (2) having romantic interests on existing Facebook friends lists. In our sample of 148 undergraduates, those who had lower commitment to their partners were more likely to make and accept Facebook friend requests with romantic interests during their relationship. However, commitment was unrelated to the number of romantic alternatives contained on one’s Facebook friends list or the frequency of Facebook solicitation while single. Additionally, attachment anxiety predicted Facebook solicitation behaviors, but this relationship was mediated by Facebook jealousy. Our findings confirm that Facebook is used to solicit connections with romantic interests both while single and during committed relationships; however, it is only those connections that are made during the relationship that are markers of lower commitment. Moreover, our study adds to a growing body of research that connects face-to-face relationship theories to the virtual environment.     

A structural model of end user computing satisfaction and user performance

The proliferation of end user computing has necessitated the development of reliable and valid instruments that measure satisfaction in this environment and evaluate its success when used in improving user performance. An instrument for measurement of end user computing satisfaction (EUCS) is developed. Using exploratory factor analysis, six attitudinal dimensions for measurement of EUCS are first identified. Structural equation modelling techniques are then used to explore the relationship between EUCS and user performance. It is shown that the six attitudinal dimensions of EUCS account for a significant portion of the variation in user performance.     

Predicting user satisfaction,strain and system usage of employee self-services

In this study, we explore attitudinal and behavioural patterns when using employee self-service (ESS) systems by using an expanded technology acceptance model (TAM). We examine the relationship between organizational support and information policy on the one hand and ease of use and usefulness on the other, and then the relationship between ease of use and usefulness with satisfaction, strain and system usage. To explore question order effects, user satisfaction was assessed prior to or after survey items. Data was collected from 517 employees using an ESS system. Results from partial least squares structural equation modelling suggests that (a) organizational support and information policy were positively related to ease of use, (b) usefulness was positively related to satisfaction and system usage, (c) ease of use and usefulness were negatively related to user strain and (d) ease of use fully mediates the relation between organizational support and strain as well as between information policy and strain. Evidence for a question order effect was found with increased satisfaction judgements, when satisfaction was assessed after the survey items. Results are discussed in terms of the theoretical and methodological aspects of the TAM and their implications for ESS system implementation.