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Abstract
Affection Exchange Theory (AET; Floyd, Citation2006a) argues that affectionate messages enhance relational bonds. In order to test this postulate, the present study explored the relationships among affectionate communication, both given and received, and perceptions of relational transgressions (e.g., severity, hurt, and rumination) in established romantic relationships. Results revealed that the amount of received affection negatively related to perceptions of severity, thoughts of rumination, and feelings of hurt. Expressed affection was unrelated to transgression perceptions. Regressions further informed how these factors relate. Results, theoretical implications, and limitations are discussed.
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to Kristen Eichhorn, Steve Granelli, and Jaime Bochantin.
Notes
Note. These variables did not significantly differ between the sexes.
**Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed). *Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed).
Horan and Turner (2009) conducted an earlier sibling study examining how affectionate messages and posttransgression perceptions were influenced using hypothetical scenarios. However, there is concern over the validity of their manipulations/scenarios; thus, these results were not reviewed when proposing the purpose of study or research questions. Rather than using hypothetical scenarios, the present study corrects that error by having participants recall and describe an actual transgression they recently experienced.
See Horan and Booth-Butterfield (Citation2010) for further description and argument about these scales.
Using Mertler and Vannatta (Citation2002) criteria for evaluating multicollinearity, the tolerance statistics and the variance inflation factor statistics (VIF) indicate multicollinearity did not exist.