The overall aim of this thesis was to explore the impact of Internet relationships on regular ongoing relationships from the point of view of those engaged in such relationships. Two studies were conducted. A sample of 75 participants, including 22 females and 53 males who were married or living in defacto relationships and ranging in age from 18 to 75 years completed an anonymous online survey for
Study One. Demographic characteristics, frequency and method of communication and relationship satisfaction were investigated. Questions were asked about Internet relationship formation. Respondents were asked to gauge levels of self-disclosure within their regular ongoing relationship and their online relationship. They were also asked about the proximity and physical attractiveness of their online partner. It was found that most respondents communicated daily, were more satisfied with their Internet partner than their regular ongoing partner, considered their Internet partner physically attractive
and communicated in a highly intimate manner. The purpose of the second study was to investigate the similarities and differences between the personality characteristics and
attachment styles of respondents. Participants in the second study were 133 respondents
who were married or living in defacto relationships, including 47 females and 86 males
ranging in age from 18 years to 66 years. Respondents completed an anonymous online survey, which included measures of personality (e.g. the International Personality Item
Pool, Goldberg, 1999), the Relationship Satisfaction questionnaire (Hendrick, 1988), and
the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale (Brennan, Clark, & Shaver, 1998). Respondents were found to be somewhat more agreeable and conscientious, and less narcissistic than previous research had found to be the case for those individuals who engaged in face-to-face infidelity. The preoccupied attachment group was well represented, but was less differentiated from the other attachment groups than was the fearful group, who were mainly female. The personality profile and attachment style of respondents in Study Two was, therefore, found to be different in important ways from that which has been associated with face-to-face infidelity. Findings were discussed in terms of methodological implications, suggestions for future research and also implications for Counselling Psychologists.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/216527 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Underwood, Heather, hjocat@bigpond.com |
| Publisher | Swinburne University of Technology. |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | http://www.swin.edu.au/), Copyright Heather Underwood |
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