Title
Cardiovascular Reactivity During Positive And Negative Marital Interactions
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2007
Publication Title
Journal Of Behavioral Medicine
Department
Psychology
Abstract
Marriage reduces risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) but marital stress increases risk, perhaps through cardiovascular reactivity (CVR). However, previous studies have lacked controls necessary to conclude definitively that negative marital interactions evoke heightened CVR. To test the specific effects of marital stress on CVR, 114 couples engaged in positive, neutral, or negative interactions in which speaking and task involvement were controlled. Compared to positive and neutral conditions, negative discussions evoked larger increases in systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output, and larger decreases in peripheral resistance and pre-ejection period--similarly for men and women. Hence, CVR could contribute to the effects of marital difficulties on CVD. Previous evidence of sex differences in this effect might reflect factors other than simple reactivity to negative interactions.
Volume
30
Issue
6
pp.
505-519
ISSN
0160-7715
Provider Link
Citation
Nealey-Moore, Jill B., Timothy W. Smith, Bert N. Uchino, Melissa W. Hawkins, et al. 2007. "Cardiovascular reactivity during positive and negative marital interactions." Journal Of Behavioral Medicine 30(6): 505-519.