Colin Hesse

Kissing in Marital and Cohabiting Relationships: Effects on Blood Lipids, Stress, and Relationship Satisfaction

Affection exchange theory and previous research suggest that affectionate behavior has stress-ameliorating effects. On this basis, we hypothesized that increasing affectionate behavior would effect improvements in physical and psychological conditions known to be exacerbated by stress. This study tested this proposition by examining the effects of increased romantic kissing on blood lipids, perceived stress, depression, and relationship satisfaction. Fifty-two healthy adults who were in marital or cohabiting romantic relationships provided self-report data for psychological outcomes and blood samples for hematological tests, and were then randomly assigned to experimental and control groups for a 6-week trial. Those in the experimental group were instructed to increase the frequency of romantic kissing in their relationships; those in the control group received no such instructions. After 6 weeks, psychological and hematological tests were repeated. Relative to the control group, the experimental group experienced improvements in perceived stress, relationship satisfaction, and total serum cholesterol.

Human Affection Exchange: XV. Metabolic and Cardiovascular Correlates of Trait Expressed Affection

Recent research on the communication of affection has begun to illuminate its implications for mental and physical health. Specifically, when compared to non-affectionate people, self-report studies have indicated that highly affectionate people are less susceptible to depression and stress, and endocrine studies have shown that highly affectionate people have more differentiated 24-hour cortisol rhythms (a pattern indicative of adaptive physiological stress management). The present studies extend this knowledge by focusing on the associations that trait affection has with cardiologic (resting heart rate), vascular (resting blood pressure), and metabolic (glycosylated hemoglobin) properties of physical health. Participants in both studies provided self-assessments of their trait levels of expressed affection and received affection (the latter for use as a covariate). Resting heart rate and blood pressure were assessed in the first study, and glycosylated hemoglobin was assessed in the second study. Results indicate that when the influence of received affection is controlled for, trait expressed affection was inversely related to resting blood pressure and glycosylated hemoglobin (but not heart rate), suggesting that the expression of affection is associated with a healthy vascular and metabolic profile.

Affectionate experience mediates the effects of alexithymia on mental health and interpersonal relationships

Affection has long been found to be a foundational force in any sort of human relationship, influencing such areas as relational closeness, stress, and depression. One psychological condition that may influence the communication of affection is alexithymia, which hinders the ability of an individual both to experience and to express emotion. On the basis of affection exchange theory, we hypothesized a mediating effect of affectionate communication on the association between alexithymia and relational and mental health indices. Participants (N = 347) provided self-reports of alexithymia, affectionate communication, depression, stress, relational closeness, nonverbal immediacy, happiness, and relational affection. Findings implicated affectionate communication as a mediator of the relationships between alexithymia and several of the outcome measures.

State and Trait Affectionate Communication Buffer Adults' Stress Reactions

The present study tested the prediction that affectionate communication is positively associated with the release of oxytocin in response to stressors. One hundred participants completed questionnaire measures about their personal relationships prior to participation in a laboratory session that included a series of standard laboratory stressors. Both state and trait affectionate communication predicted increases in oxytocin during exposure to stressors, an effect that was not moderated by sex. The results demonstrate the stress-buffering effect of affectionate interaction.

Alexithymia and marital quality: the mediating roles of loneliness and intimate communication.

This study examined the mediating roles of loneliness and intimate communication in the association between alexithymia and marital quality. Guided by a personality-behavioral approach to loneliness and affection exchange theory (AET), two actor-partner interdependence models (APIMs) were examined to test the associations among the variables. Path models (N = 155 couples) indicated that, for both spouses, loneliness and intimate communication fully mediated the association between alexithymia and marital quality. More specifically, higher alexithymia was associated with greater loneliness, which predicted lower intimate communication, which was related to lower marital quality. Multiple specific indirect effects were also significant, suggesting that the association between alexithymia and marital quality may be explained through divergent intrapersonal and interpersonal pathways. Although the magnitude of the intrapersonal associations was similar for both spouses, the results revealed gender differences in spousal interpersonal associations. For husbands, consistent differences were found between intrapersonal and interpersonal associations. Conversely, for wives, no significant differences were found between intrapersonal and interpersonal associations, suggesting that their marital quality was most strongly predicted by their own and their spouses alexithymia, loneliness, and perceptions of intimate communication. Theoretical implications and future directions for research are also discussed.

Affectionate Communication Can Suppress Immunity: Trait Affection Predicts Antibodies to Latent Epstein-Barr Virus

The communication of affection in close relationships has been linked empirically to multiple physical and mental health benefits that are attributable largely to its stress-alleviating effects. Because affectionate communication frequently involves tactile contact of an intimate nature, however, it may also elevate vulnerability to opportunistic illness and infection, increasing the chances for immune system suppression. Using a sample of 52 healthy adults in cohabiting romantic relationships who were seropositive for latent human herpesvirus-4 (also known as the Epstein-Barr virus), the present study documented that self-reported trait expressed affection predicts antibody titers to Epstein-Barr virus viral capsid antigen complex, indicating viral replication and suppressed cell-mediated immunity.

Investigating Uncertainty and Emotions in Conversations About Family Health History: A Test of the Theory of Motivated Information Management

Although the importance of being knowledgeable of ones family health history is widely known, very little research has investigated how families communicate about this important topic. This study investigated how young adults seek information from parents about family health history. The authors used the Theory of Motivated Information Management as a framework to understand the process of uncertainty discrepancy and emotion in seeking information about family health history. Results of this study show the Theory of Motivated Information Management to be a good model to explain the process young adults go through in deciding to seek information from parents about family health history. Results also show that emotions other than anxiety can be used with success in the Theory of Motivated Information Management framework.

Trait Affection Predicts Married Couples’ Use of Relational Maintenance Behaviors

The present study analyzed the role that trait affectionate communication, an individual-level trait, plays in dyads’ enactment of relational maintenance behaviors. We hypothesized that trait affection positively predicts both husbands and wives’ enactment of relational maintenance behaviors. In addition, we hypothesized that the relative contribution of wives’ trait affection to relational maintenance would be stronger than that of husbands. One hundred and forty-three married heterosexual couples completed questionnaires, and data were analyzed using the actor-partner interdependence model. Results revealed significant actor effects in 9 out of 10 cases. Results also revealed four partner effects. Husbands and wives’ trait affection mutually influenced their enactment of assurances, and husbands’ trait affection positively predicted wives’ enactment of positivity and network sharing. Results are discussed in terms of relational maintenance research and theories of affectionate interaction.

Investigating the Role of Hurtful Family Environment in the Relationship Between Affectionate Communication and Family Satisfaction

A significant body of research has shown that support from family can have numerous positive biopsychosocial outcomes for an individual. Children with supportive families have fewer emotional and behavioral problems (Garnefski & Diekstra, 1996), have higher quality relationships with peers (Franco & Levitt, 1998), are less likely to be depressed (Huntley & Phelps, 1990), and are generally healthier (Wickrama, Lorenz, & Conger, 1997) than children with less supportive families. However, families can often cause a great deal of hurt and emotional pain. Members of such families may be subjected to manipulation, belittling, criticism, and sometimes even violence. Being a part of a hurtful family environment (broadly defined here) can cause a variety of effects on an individual. Research has shown that individuals from a hurtful family environment are more prone to high blood pressure (Luecken, 1998), have problems regulating stress (Jones, Beach, & Jackson, 2004), are more prone to depression (Downey & Coyne, 1990), have communication problems such as verbal hostility, and have problems with self-esteem and anxiety (Vangelisti, Maguire, Alexander, & Clark, 2007). A hurtful family environment is also likely to influence how an individual communicates and relates to his or her family as well as others such as friends and romantic partners (Noller & Fitzpatrick, 1990). This impact could include the ability of an individual to express emotions (Planalp, 1998). To further investigate these effects, our study explores the role that hurtful family

Discussions of Religion and Relational Messages: Differences between Comfortable and Uncomfortable Interactions

Although many Americans consider religion important in their everyday lives, most feel uncomfortable when confronted with issues concerning religion and faith. The present study focused on the relational messages and contextual factors related to comfort levels in religious conversations. Using Burgoon and Hales (1984, 1987) relational topoi, it was hypothesized that messages of intimacy and composure would relate positively to comfort levels in religious conversations, whereas messages of dominance and formality would relate negatively to comfort levels. These hypotheses received support. Furthermore, contextual factors such as perceived religious similarity and relational closeness were both positively associated with comfort levels. A discriminant analysis of these variables revealed that relational messages, specifically affection/involvement, receptivity/trust, and dominance, were the strongest predictors whether participants perceived a conversation as comfortable or uncomfortable.