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Beyond the Transaction: Commitment, Intimacy, and Investment in Online Camming Relationships
Rhonda N Balzarini1,2, Taylor Himes3, Faith Swanson4
1Department of Psychology Main Office, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA. rbalzarini@txstate.edu.
Archives of Sexual Behavior
|July 23, 2026
Summary
Commitment in online camming relationships depends on satisfaction, investment, and intimacy, not just perceived alternatives. These factors predict current and future relationship investment for both cam models and members.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- The investment model explains relationship persistence through satisfaction, investment, and alternatives.
- Online camming relationships are increasingly common, yet commitment factors remain understudied.
- These relationships may involve intimacy beyond purely sexual or financial exchanges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate factors influencing commitment in online camming relationships.
- To test the applicability of the investment model in this context.
- To explore the role of intimacy as a predictor of commitment.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study surveying cam models (N=199) and members (N=544) from LiveJasmin.
- Assessed satisfaction, investment, quality of alternatives, intimacy, current commitment, and future investment intentions.
- Tested a modified investment model replacing alternatives with intimacy.
Main Results:
- Satisfaction, investment, and intimacy positively predicted current commitment and future investment intentions.
- The quality of alternatives was not a significant predictor of commitment.
- Intimacy emerged as a key factor in sustaining camming relationships.
Conclusions:
- Intimacy plays a crucial role in driving commitment in online camming relationships.
- Emotional connections are vital for sustaining these interactions beyond transactional aspects.
- Findings suggest a need to consider intimacy in models of digital relationship commitment.
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