Changes in Friendship Commitment: Comparing Geographically Close and Long Distance Friendships.

The existence of long distance friendships questions assumptions that interpersonal communication scholars make about relational commitment. A turning point analysis compared changes in commitment for geographically close and long distance same-sex friendships. The majority of both types of friends reported high levels of commitment and fluctuations in commitment levels over the relational history. Over eighty percent of the long distance friends reported their commitment levels were currently rising rather than falling. These findings provide evidence that proximity and frequent face-to-face contact are not requirements for committed friendships and that this relationship may not be as vulnerable to a lack of proximity as is often portrayed. ..PAT.-Conference Proceeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]