Testing the Cultural Scope of Affection Exchange Theory in Slovakia

We examined the cultural scope of affection exchange theory. Specifically, we tested the postulates that trait affection given and received covary with indicators of psychological well-being and that highly affectionate individuals are relationally advantaged. The sample consisted of 326 college-attending adult Slovaks. Correlational analyses supported the predicted associations between trait affection and depression, loneliness, stress, general mental health, and self-esteem. Additionally, results of t-tests indicated that individuals involved in a romantic relationship reported higher levels of trait affection compared to those not involved in a romantic relationship. Limitations and future directions are addressed in the discussion.