A new study, published by the Journal of Communication, suggests that couples in long distance relationships experience more intimacy with their partners than those who see their partner every day. The study concluded that the interactions between couples in long distance relationships were more meaningful, which lead to higher levels of intimacy.

Co-authored by psychologists Crystal Jiang of City University in Hong Kong and Jeffrey T. Hancock of Cornell University, the study suggests people in these types of relationships have a tendency to idealize their partners.

Jiang told USA Today that the major difference between long distance couples and those who see each other daily is that those in long distance relationships get limited amounts of direct time with each other, so in an attempt to keep the relationship going they communicate more frequently and engage in discussions about deeper issues, like love, trust and future plans.

“Besides communication frequency, they also adapt their messages, for example, by focusing on more limited but relationally intense topics,” Jiang wrote in an email to USA Today. “The intimacy developed here is a psychological closeness, it doesn’t include physical or sexual intimacy.”

The study cites 63 heterosexual couples, all with a connection to Cornell University in their early 20s as either students or partners of a student. Most of the couples had been separated for at least 17 months, largely due to their attendance at different universities.

Researchers asked the participants to fill out daily surveys for a week, in regards to the quality and quantity of communication they had with their partner.

Researchers discovered that most of the interactions took place through text messages. They also discovered that even though communication was limited to fewer instances per day, more channels of communication were used, such as video chats and phone calls.

According to Jiang, 25 to 50 percent of college students in the United States are involved in a long distance relationship and 75 percent have been involved in one during their undergraduate careers. Using Skype, FaceTime and other advanced communication tools, it’s easier to connect with someone when they are in another state, across the country or even in another part of the world.