“Physically we are apart, mentally we are not”. Creating a shared space and a sense of belonging in long-distance relationships

Abstract

As couples tend to be referred to as “being together,” long-distance partners, who spend most of their time apart and in different spaces, might face a challenge delineating and validating their relationship. Through in-depth interviews with 20 couples in a long-distance relationship, this study explores how long-distance partners linguistically and symbolically mark the boundaries of their relationship, and also transcend any real or perceived gaps between distance and closeness in the process. While they rarely shared a physical space, my participants created joint socio-mental spaces, which enhanced their sense of belonging and helped to expand definitions of intimacy and space.