Relational routine and ritual use on social networking sites: Communicating commitment in the digital domain

Although research indicates that social media use can impact relationship dynamics and that routines and rituals guide relationship development, no research has examined the intersection of these bodies of work. The current study addressed this gap by examining the process around two distinct types of relational social networking site (SNS) use: instrumental (routine) and symbolic (ritual) use. By examining both types of SNS use with a grounded theory approach, the results highlight when new routines and rituals (online and offline) become important and how such importance contributes to relational health. The theoretical model developed at the intersection of couples’ varied SNS use suggests that SNSs are used as a vehicle for communicating relational commitment to partners, close others, and even strangers.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Human Dvlpmt & Family Studies

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2023

Author dc:creator

• Maniotes, Christopher R.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ogolsky, Brian G
• Hardesty, Jennifer L
• Oleschuk, Merin
• Caughlin, John P

• Routines
• Rituals
• Relationships
• Romantic
• Symbolic
• Instrumental
• Dating
• Social Networking Sites
• Social Media
• Communication

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2023 Christopher Maniotes

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/121231

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F121231