Get a little closer: Further examination of nonverbal comforting strategies

A set of nonverbal comforting strategies and their relationships with affective orientation and gender reported in previous research were tested for their generalizability to a broader sample. With one exception, emotional distancing, the strategy types were confirmed and five additional types were observed, resulting in an expanded set of strategies. Previous results relating affective orientation to diversity and number of comforting strategies were not supported. Gender differences in affective orientation, diversity and number of strategies, and use of specific strategies were supported. Females were found to be more affectively oriented and to use a greater number and diversity of strategies.