Relational and health correlates of excessive affection

ABSTRACT

The current study examined excessive affection, the perception that someone is receiving more affection than they would prefer. The study posed several hypotheses over three studies that all dealt with various psychosocial correlates of excessive affection. Specifically, the first two studies examined correlates of a more general perception of excessive affection (which were largely unsupported except for both anxious and avoidant attachment), while the third study examined correlates of a more specific perception of excessive affection within romantic relationships. Nearly all of the hypotheses were supported in the third study, including relationships with stress, loneliness, and relational satisfaction.

KEYWORDS:

• Affectionate communication
• mental health
• romantic relationships
• AET

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. I get too much affection in my life, I often wish I got less affection in my life, I wish people would hug me less often, One thing I would change about my life is to receive less affection, I don’t get enough affection in my life (R), I don’t wish for less affection than I already get in my life (R), Affection is something I could use less of in my life, In general in my life, I feel that I receive too much affection.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Colin Hesse

Colin Hesse (Ph.D., Arizona State University) is an associate professor of speech communication at Oregon State University.

Alan Mikkelson

Alan Mikkelson (Ph.D., Arizona State University) is a professor of communication studies at Whitworth University.