Affectionate communication in nonromantic relationships: Influences of communicator, relational, and contextual factors

Despite its importance for healthy relational development, the overt communication of affection is inherently risk‐laden and subject to normative expectancies for appropriateness. The present study examines a number of individual, relational, and contextual factors that individually and collectively influence the perceived appropriateness of communicating affection in nonromantic dyadic relationships. An experiment involving 386 subjects was conducted to assess the influence of biological sex, sex composition, relational type, and the privacy and emotional intensity of interactive contexts. Predictions regarding their influence were substantially supported.