Antecedents and consequences of interpersonal electronic surveillance in romantic relationships

ABSTRACT The proliferation of communication technologies and the growth of social networking sites provide new avenues for electronic surveillance of romantic relationship partners. This study evaluated attachment dimensions and romantic jealousy as complementary explanations for interpersonal electronic surveillance in romantic relationships. In addition, this study investigated the moderating effect of dyadic trust on the link between interpersonal electronic surveillance and relationship satisfaction. Three hundred and twenty-one individuals currently involved in romantic relationships with active social media accounts completed measures assessing attachment anxiety and avoidance; cognitive and emotional jealousy; interpersonal electronic surveillance; dyadic trust; and relationship satisfaction. Results indicated partial support for a statistical model in which jealousy mediated the associations between attachment and interpersonal electronic surveillance. In addition, findings supported the moderating role of dyadic trust on the association between interpersonal electronic surveillance and relationship satisfaction.