Full length article I just text to say I love you: Partner similarity in texting and relationship satisfaction Jonathan Ohadi, Brandon Brown, Leora Trub * , Lisa Rosenthal Pace University, USA article info Article history: Received 23 May 2017 Received in revised form 4 August 2017 Accepted 30 August 2017 Available online 17 September 2017 Keywords: Cell phone Relationship satisfaction Similarity Text messaging Young adults abstract Young adults increasingly rely on text messaging in the ongoing maintenance of romantic relationships. However, results have been mixed regarding the implications of text messaging for relationship satis- faction. Thus, in a sample of 205 young adults (ages 18 to 29) in romantic relationships, this study examined the role of perceived texting similarity between romantic partners in predicting relationship satisfaction. Controlling for gender, length of relationship, and attachment anxiety and avoidance, regression analyses found that greater perceived similarity between self and partner in overall text messaging use, as well as greater perceived similarity in frequency of initiating and saying hello via text messaging specifically, were associated with greater relationship satisfaction. Findings highlight the importance of perceived similarity between romantic partners regarding texting behaviors for their level of satisfaction, even when taking into account the robust predictors of attachment anxiety and avoid- ance. Results suggest that concordance in use of text messaging can be a point of intervention in romantic relationships, and future research should continue to explore the role of similarity in texting in romantic as well as other relationships. © 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd. 1. Introduction Text messaging is ubiquitous in today's society. With 98% of young adults in the U.S. ages 18 to 29 owning a cell phone, and 79% of cell phone owners using text messaging, texting has become a pervasive form of communication (Pew Research Center, 2015). Texting has long surpassed phone calls in this age group (Lenhart, Ling, Campbell, & Purcell, 2010; Nielsen Online, 2008), who represent the largest users of text messaging by age group (Smith, 2011). A recent study found that undergraduate students spend an average of over 90 min per day texting (Roberts, Yaya, & Manolis, 2014). Text messaging plays a major role in the daily manage- ment of relationships among young adults (Brody & Pe~ na, 2015), such as communicating urgent information inconspicuously (Pettigrew, 2009). Given the focus during this developmental stage on romantic relationships (Erikson & Erikson, 1998), it follows that texting plays a prominent role specifically in communication in romantic re- lationships as well. For example, 42% of young adults have used text messaging to communicate sexual intent (Harrison, Bealing, & Salley, 2015) and 31% of teens reported having been broken up with by a partner over text message (Lenhart, Anderson, & Smith, 2015). Past research on the connection between text messaging and relationship satisfaction has yielded mixed results (e.g. Coyne, Stockdale, Busby, Iverson, & Grant, 2011; Hall & Baym, 2012; Schade, Sandberg, Bean, Busby, & Coyne, 2013), suggesting the need for more research on the nuances of the role of text messaging behavior in romantic relationships. Thus, in a sample of young adults in committed romantic relationships, the current investi- gation explored for the first time the associations of relationship satisfaction with perceived similarity between oneself and one's partner in frequency of initiating text messages, and in the content included in text message conversations. 2. Literature review 2.1. Romantic relationships and relationship satisfaction A key feature of development during emerging adulthood is the formation of romantic relationships (Erikson & Erikson, 1998). Relationship satisfaction is particularly important, as relationship satisfaction for both members of a romantic couple is associated * Corresponding author. Psychology Department, Pace University, 41 Park Row, 13th Floor, Room 1316, New York, NY 10038, USA. E-mail address: ltrub@pace.edu (L. Trub). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Computers in Human Behavior journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/comphumbeh https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.08.048 0747-5632/© 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Computers in Human Behavior 78 (2018) 126e132