Sexual Intimacy—Intersections Between Material and Social

Dynamics related to intimacy, sexuality in LATT relationships, and diverse ways of coping are the focus of this chapter. How do these couples view and maintain sexual intimacy without bodily immediacy? The participants are placed in two categories. Firstly, those foregrounding physical intimacy, and secondly, those with varied physical intimacy salience between the partners. The chapter explores how some couples manage explicit longing for bodily intimacy through multiple social media, especially sexting-sending/ receiving sexually explicit messages and visuals. It highlights why some couples prefer not to engage in online sexual activities (OSA), underlining mistrust and potential misuse of social media. Moreover, this chapter reveals that some participants experience the partner as a ‘stranger’ after separation and a need for emotional reconnection before sexual intimacy again, overlooked in the existing studies. Lastly, a consensual non-monogamous (CNM) relationship (open relationship) when apart, for jealousy avoidance and trust enhancement for one same-sex couple, is taken up.