title: Is online better than offline for meeting partners? Depends: are you looking to marry or to date?
abstract: Previous studies that compared differences in the outcomes of relationships that begin online compared to traditional offline venues have primarily looked at marital relationships. The present study extends this investigation by including non-marital relationships in the comparison. It further investigates if the breakup rate of relationships (both marital and non-marital) varies as a result of meeting online versus offline, and if other factors outside of the meeting venue predict relationship dissolution. Data are used from Waves I, II, and III of a nationally representative survey of 4,002 respondents. Results suggest that couples who met their partners online were more likely to be involved in dating and romantic relationships than marital relationships compared to couples who met offline. Furthermore, the breakup rates for both marital and non-marital romantic relationships was found to be higher for couples who met online than couples who met through offline venues. In addition to meeting venue, relationship quality and duration of relationship were found to be significant factors that predicted if couples would stay together or break up. Evidence drawn from theory and previous research are used to explain these observed trends.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication, Michigan State University , East Lansing, Michigan.
authors.forename: Aditi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003380:Courtship / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D061108:Social Media