Couples who spend the more time on Twitter are more likely to be unfaithful and break up, according to a recent study Counsel and Heal reported.

Researchers Russell Clayton, a doctoral student in the University of Missouri School of Journalism, found that active Twitter users are far more likely to experience Twitter-related conflict with their romantic partners. Clayton's results showed that Twitter-related conflict then leads to negative relationship outcomes, including emotional and physical cheating, breakup and divorce.

For the study, Clayton surveyed 581 Twitter users of all ages. He asked questions about their Twitter use such as how often they login in to Twitter, tweet, scroll the Twitter newsfeed, send direct messages to others, and reply to followers. Clayton also asked how much, if any, conflict arose between participants' current or former partners as a result of Twitter use.

In his previous research on Facebook, Clayton found that Facebook-related conflict and negative relationship outcomes were greater among couples in newer relationships of 36 months or less. In his new research regarding Twitter, Clayton found these outcomes occurred regardless of duration of relationship.

"I found it interesting that active Twitter users experienced Twitter-related conflict and negative relationship outcomes regardless of length of romantic relationship," Clayton said in a statement. "Couples who reported being in relatively new relationships experienced the same amount of conflict as those in longer relationships."

If Twitter users are experiencing Twitter-related conflict in their relationship, Clayton recommends that they limit their daily and weekly use of social networking sites to healthier, reasonable levels.

"Users should cut back to moderate, healthy levels of Twitter use if they are experiencing Twitter or Facebook - related conflict," Clayton said. "Some couples share joint social networking site accounts to reduce relationship conflict, and there are some social networking site apps, such as the 2Life app, that facilitates interpersonal communication between partners."

The findings were recently published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.