Predicting Engagement in Electronic Surveillance in Romantic Relationships

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-24-2020

Publication Title

Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking

First page number:

1

Last page number:

7

Abstract

The Internet is a common medium through which people engage in interpersonal electronic surveillance (IES) of one another. We know little empirically about what predicts IES in romantic relationships. The present study expands on factors identified in previous studies (including demographic characteristics, relational characteristics, and other psychosocial variables) to predict surveillance in romantic relationships. Internet users in established romantic relationships (n = 259) completed inventories on the frequency of surveillance behavior, relationship variables, demographic variables, and Internet usage variables. Hierarchical regression was applied to understand relationships between these behaviors and surveillance. The regression supported that relationship variables and Internet use variables significantly predicted IES in romantic relationships. These findings further our understanding of the Internet to surveil partners.

Keywords

Surveillance; Internet; Smartphone; Couples; Relationships

Disciplines

Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling | Medicine and Health Sciences | Mental and Social Health

Language

English

UNLV article access

Search your library

Share

COinS