Dating During COVID-19: Initiating and Negotiating Romantic Relationships

Dating During COVID-19: Initiating and Negotiating Romantic Relationships This study contributes to the understanding of how individuals initiate and negotiate romantic relationships through pandemic circumstances. The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed daily human interactions. The social distancing guidelines put in place by the Center for Disease Control and the lockdown mandates initiated by local governments have impacted interpersonal communication on various levels, including face-to-face interactions and dating initiation. In this study, relational turbulence theory was used as a framework to understand the ways in which COVID-19 has negatively impacted dating relationships. This theory explains how partners negotiate and manage turbulent events has repercussions on developing intimacy, uncertainty in relationships, and how interdependence is established (Theiss, 2005). The theory predicts that as a relationship increases in intimacy, the amount of turbulence experienced in the relationship will increase as well. We hypothesized that the increase of relational uncertainty would result in relational turbulence, and that the increase in perceived relational turbulence would relate to the disclosure of information about physical distancing practices, potential exposure to COVID-19, symptoms of illness, and general worries about COVID-19 between partners and to social networks members. One hundred and forty seven participants completed an online Qualtrics survey which measured the levels of relational uncertainty, disclosure, and turbulence within dating relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic. Items specifically focused on how the pandemic has impacted the experience of, and communication in, romantic relationships. The measurements used surrounding relational uncertainty and relational turbulence were from previous research studies within the field of communication. The measurements regarding self and partner disclosure and COVID-19 as an interference were created by the researchers. These ...