TY - JOUR
T1 - The Effects of Cuddling on Relational Quality for Married Couples
T2 - A Longitudinal Investigation
AU - Van Raalte, Lisa J.
AU - Floyd, Kory
AU - Mongeau, Paul A.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Summer Research Grant from the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Western States Communication Association.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - This study examined the longitudinal effects of cuddling on relational quality for married couples. In a four-week experiment, 80 adults were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: increased cuddling (treatment), increased time spent together (comparison), or no change in behavior (control). Controlling for the pretest relational quality scores and changes in kissing behavior, individuals in the treatment condition reported more relational satisfaction and lower quality of alternatives after four weeks than did individuals in the comparison and control conditions. The comparison and control conditions did not differ from each other on any relational outcomes.
AB - This study examined the longitudinal effects of cuddling on relational quality for married couples. In a four-week experiment, 80 adults were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: increased cuddling (treatment), increased time spent together (comparison), or no change in behavior (control). Controlling for the pretest relational quality scores and changes in kissing behavior, individuals in the treatment condition reported more relational satisfaction and lower quality of alternatives after four weeks than did individuals in the comparison and control conditions. The comparison and control conditions did not differ from each other on any relational outcomes.
KW - Affection
KW - Commitment
KW - Cuddling
KW - Quality of Alternatives
KW - Relational Satisfaction
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U2 - 10.1080/10570314.2019.1667021
DO - 10.1080/10570314.2019.1667021
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85073948346
VL - 85
SP - 61
EP - 82
JO - Western Journal of Communication
JF - Western Journal of Communication
SN - 1057-0314
IS - 1
ER -