Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

For those fearing that time apart from their dearest may hurt their chances at reunion, a new study shows that absence truly may make the heart grow fonder, according to a recent study.

Co-authors Crystal Jiang of the City University of Hong Kong and Jeffrey T. Hancock of Cornell University actually suggest that individuals in relationships in which time is spent away from their partners are more likely to idealize their mates.

In fact, Jiang points out that a major difference among geographically proximate relationships and long distance ones is that long distances lovers have limited face-to-face interactions and are thus more likely to discus deeper issues, including love, trust and future plans.

"Besides communication frequency, they also adapt their messages, for example, by focusing on more limited but relationally intense topics," Jiang, said, via USA Today. "The intimacy developed here is a psychological closeness - it doesn't include physical or sexual intimacy."

Researchers studied 63 heterosexual couples in their early twenties with connections to Cornell University. Long distance partners tended to be separated for a period of 17 months or longer, according to the study.

Participants were asked to fill out a one week survey regarding the quality and quantity of communication they had with their significant other.

Researchers found that most of their interactions were via text, and though long distance couples had less overall interactions per day, they were more likely to use video chats and phone calls.

Study results showed that about 25 to 50 percent of college students in the United States are currently in long distance relationships and around 75 percent have been in one at some point in their undergraduate career.

Researchers believe the high numbers can be explained by the long list of available social media to use for long distance relationships.

More information regarding the study can be found in the Journal of Communication.