EXPLORING AFFECTION EXCHANGE: MARRIED GRADUATE STUDENT PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

Relationship research involving students typically includes undergraduates. Graduate students are deserving attention, as well. Examining the experiences of graduate students, and in particular married graduate students (MGSs), is the focus of this thesis. Maintaining a sound relationship with a spouse is a crucial aspect of a graduate student’s life that can significantly influence their physical and mental well-being. This study was informed by affection exchange theory (AET), an interpersonal communication theory, as a framework to explore how married graduate students experience affection with their spouses and how it functions to help manage stress, enhances relational satisfaction, and contributes to their overall well-being. I conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews, with 13 graduate students from diverse backgrounds about their experiences of marital affection while also pursuing graduate education. They shared that expressions of affection, both verbal and nonverbal, served as a vital coping resource for MGSs. Through emotional reassurance, physical closeness, acts of service, shared routines, and mutual goal setting, they maintained relational harmony during periods of academic stress. The study's implications for mental health support, marriage counseling, and academic resources tailored to married graduate students, limitations and suggestions for future research avenues are addressed.