Persistent Facebook use can be damaging to romantic relationships and increase the risk of separation and divorce, according to researchers at Missouri School of Journalism.
The study analysed Facebook users between the ages of 18 and 82 to find out how often they used the website, and whether their usage caused any conflict with their current or ex-partner.
The researchers found that excessive Facebook use was linked to greater amounts of conflict, which could then go on to cause “negative relationship outcomes” such as infidelity, separation and divorce.
“Previous research has shown that the more a person in a romantic relationship uses Facebook, the more likely they are to monitor their partner’s Facebook activity more stringently, which can lead to feelings of jealousy,” said lead researcher Russell Clayton. “Facebook-induced jealousy may lead to arguments concerning past partners. Also, our study found that excessive Facebook users are more likely to connect or reconnect with other Facebook users, including previous partners, which may lead to emotional and physical cheating.”
The problems were apparently particularly acute in newer relationships.
“These findings held only for couples who had been in relationships of three years or less,” Clayton explained. “This suggests that Facebook may be a threat to relationships that are not fully matured. On the other hand, participants who have been in relationships for longer than three years may not use Facebook as often, or may have more matured relationships, and therefore Facebook use may not be a threat or concern.”
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