Technologies have rapidly become pervasive parts of people's lives and relationships. Within intimate couple relationships, partners may use technologies for many functions, including communicating, sharing affection, planning, and learning about one another. There is growing recognition that these functions can create both positive and negative outcomes for couples. The purpose of this study was to conduct an in-depth examination of the potential positive and negative impacts of technology for intimate couple relationships. Data from an electronic survey of 225 undergraduate and graduate university students were subject to content analysis procedures to identify themes in participants' perspectives toward the impact of technology on their relationships-both beneficial and deleterious. The counseling and research implications of the identified themes are addressed.

The goal of this study was to develop an instrument to operationalize the impact of technology use on romantic relationship intimacy. The sample consisted of 241 undergraduate and graduate students who identified as being in a committed, monogamous intimate relationship. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted on an initial set of test items to reduce the number of items to those that explained the relationship between technology and romantic relationship intimacy. The factor structure and psychometric properties of the resulting instrument, Technology and Intimate Relationship Assessment, are described, along with implications for couple therapy and future research.

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