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

Abstract 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.

[1]  Michelle Drouin,et al.  Unwanted but consensual sexting among young adults: Relations with attachment and sexual motivations , 2014, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[2]  Michelle Drouin,et al.  Using modern technology to keep in touch with back burners: An investment model analysis , 2014, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[3]  Kristopher J Preacher,et al.  Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models , 2008, Behavior research methods.

[4]  Brian H. Spitzberg,et al.  Coping with the green‐eyed monster: Conceptualizing and measuring communicative responses to romantic jealousy , 1995 .

[5]  Lauren M. Papp,et al.  "Are We Facebook Official?" Implications of Dating Partners' Facebook Use and Profiles for Intimate Relationship Satisfaction , 2012, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[6]  Relationship commitment and monitoring alternatives using Facebook in unmarried romantic relationships , 2013 .

[7]  Bram P. Buunk,et al.  Personality, birth order and attachment styles as related to various types of jealousy , 1997 .

[8]  Caryl E. Rusbult,et al.  Resisting temptation: Devaluation of alternative partners as a means of maintaining commitment in close relationships. , 1989 .

[9]  Sonja Utz,et al.  The Role of Social Network Sites in Romantic Relationships: Effects on Jealousy and Relationship Happiness , 2011, J. Comput. Mediat. Commun..

[10]  Emily Christofides,et al.  More Information than You Ever Wanted: Does Facebook Bring Out the Green-Eyed Monster of Jealousy? , 2009, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[11]  R. McAnulty,et al.  Infidelity in Dating Relationships , 2007 .

[12]  C. Rusbult.  Commitment and Satisfaction in Romantic Associations: A Test of the investment Model , 1980 .

[13]  Russell B. Clayton,et al.  Cheating, Breakup, and Divorce: Is Facebook Use to Blame? , 2013, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[14]  Katherine M. White,et al.  Facebook Tells Me So: Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior to Understand Partner-Monitoring Behavior on Facebook , 2011, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[15]  Francis T. McAndrew,et al.  Sex differences in jealousy over Facebook activity , 2013, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[16]  Robert S. Tokunaga,et al.  Social networking site or social surveillance site? Understanding the use of interpersonal electronic surveillance in romantic relationships , 2011, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[17]  Francis T. McAndrew,et al.  Who does what on Facebook? Age, sex, and relationship status as predictors of Facebook use , 2012, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[18]  John M. Martz,et al.  The Investment Model Scale: Measuring commitment level, satisfaction level, quality of alternatives, and investment size , 1998 .

[19]  T. Marshall,et al.  Attachment styles as predictors of Facebook‐related jealousy and surveillance in romantic relationships , 2013 .

[20]  Rachel A. Elphinston,et al.  Time to Face It! Facebook Intrusion and the Implications for Romantic Jealousy and Relationship Satisfaction , 2011, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[21]  S. M. Drigotas,et al.  An Investment Model Prediction of Dating Infidelity , 1999 .

[22]  Laura K. Guerrero,et al.  Attachment‐style differences in the experience and expression of romantic jealousy , 1998 .

[23]  Jaclyn D. Cravens,et al.  Facebook Infidelity: When Poking Becomes Problematic , 2013 .