Stress and Negative Relationship Quality among Older Couples: Implications for Blood Pressure.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The cardiovascular system may represent a significant pathway by which marriage and stress influence health, but research has focused on married individuals cross-sectionally. This study examined associations among chronic stress, negative spousal relationship quality, and systolic blood pressure over time among middle-aged and older husbands and wives.

Method

Participants were from the nationally representative longitudinal Health and Retirement Study. A total of 1,356 (N = 2,712) married and cohabitating couples completed psychosocial and biomeasure assessments in waves 2006 and 2010. Analyses examined whether Wave 1 (2006) relationship quality and stress were associated with changes in blood pressure over time.

Results

The effects of stress and negative

SUBMITTER: Birditt KS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4982382 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature