Affection Deprivation in Romantic Relationships

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

Tian

2019

Self Cite

The current study sought to assess the dyadic effects of affection deprivation in marital relationships. We used the tenets of affection exchange theory to examine the actor and partner effects between affectionate communication, affection deprivation, and mental and relational outcomes. Moreover, we tested whether affection deprivation mediated the association between affectionate communication and outcome variables. In terms of actor effects, affectionate communication was associated with husbands’ depression, wives’ loneliness, and both husbands’ and wives’ marital quality and emotional intimacy. Affection deprivation was associated with all outcome variables for husbands and wives, except for wives’ emotional intimacy. We observed significant partner effects between affectionate communication and affection deprivation for both husbands and wives, as well as between wives’ affectionate communication and husbands’ emotional intimacy. Affection deprivation mediated some of the actor and partner effects between affectionate communication and outcome variables. Implications, connections to theory, and directions for future research are discussed.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Affection Exchange Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Affection Exchange Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Affection Deprivation in Marital Relationships: An Actor-partner Interdependence Mediation Analysis

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

Tian

2019

Self Cite

“…In addition, in some relationships, even withholding affection can be seen as beneficial. This is particularly interesting because previous research suggests that the affection deprivation can have negative effects on the relationship, particularly satisfaction and commitment, of the individual receiving the lack of affection (Hesse & Mikkelson, 2017). However, the current study suggests individuals who withhold affection in RRs appear to have more positive relational health outcomes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deceptive Affection Across Relational Contexts: A Group Comparison of Romantic Relationships, Cross-Sex Friendships, and Friends With Benefits Relationships

Trask

Horstman

2019

Communication Research

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Communicating affection is important for developing and maintaining relationships; yet, it can be risky when it is used deceptively. Grounded in affection exchange theory (AET), the purpose of the present study is to test how types of deceptive affection—or incongruity between affection felt and expressed—predicts relational health differently across three relational contexts: romantic relationships (RRs), cross-sex friendships (CSFs), and friends with benefits relationships (FWBRs). Multiple group analyses using structural equation modeling ( n = 526 college students) revealed varying relational types provide both intensified and withheld affection, with FWBRs experiencing both types of deceptive affection the most. Furthermore, intensified affection is positively related to relational health outcomes in RRs, and withheld affection negatively predicts relational health in FWBRs. Findings suggest that differences exist between relational types and both types of deceptive affection and relational health. Theoretical implications for expanding AET Postulates 3 and 5 are discussed.

“…Two additional studies have examined the relational consequences of deprivation. First, Hesse and Mikkelson (2017) probed affection deprivation within the context of close relationships, defining deprivation as receiving less affection than desired from one's relational partner, specifically. That study found inverse correlations between relational deprivation and relational satisfaction, relational closeness, and relational commitment, with a positive correlation between deprivation and relational uncertainty.…”

Section: Consequences Of Affection Deprivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Affection substitution: The effect of pornography consumption on close relationships

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

Floyd

2019

Self Cite

Scholars have stated that humans have a fundamental need to belong, but less is known about whether individuals can use other resources to substitute for close relationships. In this study, 357 adults reported their level of affection deprivation, their weekly pornography consumption, their goals for using pornography (including life satisfaction and loneliness reduction), and indicators of their individual and relational wellness. We hypothesized that individuals might consume pornography as a coping mechanism (either adaptive or maladaptive) to deal with affection deprivation, with affection deprivation relating to the goals for using pornography and consumption potentially moderating the relationships between affection deprivation and the outcome measures. As predicted, affection deprivation and pornography consumption were inversely related to relational satisfaction and closeness, while being positively related to loneliness and depression. Affection deprivation was positively related with most stated goals for pornography use (although the relationship between affection deprivation and pornography consumption was nonsignificant). The moderation hypothesis, however, showed little evidence, yielding a moderating effect only on the relationship between affection deprivation and depression (with nonsignificant effects for relational satisfaction, closeness, and loneliness). Overall, there is some evidence that pornography consumption is used as a form of affection substitution (dealing with the perception of affection deprivation). However, there is no evidence of consumption being either adaptive or maladaptive when it comes to relationship satisfaction, closeness, and loneliness, although it is possibly maladaptive in terms of depression.