Physical distance and interpersonal characteristics in college students’romantic relationships

This study compared college students’long-distance romantic relationships (N= 80) with those that were not long-distance (N= 82) on nine variables that have been suggested as fundamentally important in intimate relationships. Members of long-distance relationships (LDKs) reported less descriptive self-disclosure and companionship with their partners, and they were less certain their relationships would endure. The two types of relationships did not differ on the remaining six intimacy processes: intimate self-disclosure, affection, enhancement of worth, instrumental help, nurturance, and partner's perspective-taking. LDRs did not differ from nonLDRs on ratings of closeness, but were rated as less satisfactory. LDRs were no more likely to terminate within a 3-month period than were nonLDKs. In the entire sample, relationship satisfaction was found to be the best predictor of stability.