Gender differences in short-term cardiovascular effects of giving and receiving support for health concerns in marriage.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Little is known about the cardiovascular effects of mutual emotional spousal support given for health concerns. We examined the hypotheses that: (a) mutual support (both spouses giving and receiving support) compared to one-sided or no support, would decrease blood pressure and heart rate in both spouses during a recovery period; and (b) wives would benefit more from mutual support than would husbands. A second aim was to examine gender differences in cardiovascular reactivity, distress, and closeness in response to receiving support regardless of mutuality.

Method

In 98 married couples (Age 50+), spouses discussed health concerns and were assigned randomly to one of four conditions: neither spouse received support (n = 26), only the wife received support from the

SUBMITTER: Monin JK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6897330 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature