Long-Distance Closeness 1
What Geographic Distance Can Illustrate About Relational Closeness:
What Does it Mean to Be a Close Long-Distance Friend?
Relational closeness is one of the most ubiquitous concepts in interpersonal
communication. Bersheid, Snyder, and Omoto (1989a) state, “the concept of closeness has
moved from the periphery of the relationship domain to front and center in the minds of both
investigators and laypersons” (p. 64). Close relationships are important for individuals not only
intrinsically but also for such practical benefits as social support in times of crisis, to protect
oneself from loneliness, and to protect oneself from depression (Perlman & Fehr, 1987).
However, some previous methods of defining relational closeness have assessed amount of face-
to-face interaction as indicative of closeness (e.g., Bersheid, Snyder, & Omoto, 1989b). Such a
definition immediately disadvantages the long-distance relationship. As previous research has
illustrated no difference in closeness levels between proximal and distant romantic relationships
(Guldner & Swensen, 1995) and friendships (Author, 2001a), what can relationships over
distance reveal about the concept of relational closeness? That is, what does it mean to have a
close relationship with an individual whom one may rarely see face-to-face or even interact?
This study seeks to explore this question by examining how individuals define closeness in long-
distance friendships.
First, the importance of long-distance relationships both practically and theoretically will
be discussed. Then, current methods of defining and measuring relational closeness will be
presented. How these methods may tap into or fail to tap into the dynamics of close long-
distance relationships will be explored.
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Convention