Marital brawls are harmful for the heart, says a
study.
The study, conducted by University of Utah scientists, found marital rows
especially hostile arguments between couples could harm their heart's health.
The researchers studied 150 married couples and found that arterial disease
in women was linked to either partner demonstrating hostility, but in men it was
linked to either showing controlling behaviour, reported the online edition of
BBC News.
The researchers studied the couples, with at least one partner in their
sixties, who were all paid to participate in the study.
Among study participants none had ever been diagnosed of cardiovascular
disease.
Each couple was asked to pick a topic, such as money, in-laws, children,
vacations and household chores - that caused disagreements in their marriage.
They were then videoed while they discussed the topic, watched by
psychology students. It was assumed such discussions were "muted" versions of
what happened at home because the couples were being watched. The comments were
coded as friendly or hostile, submissive or dominant or controlling. For
example, comments such as "you can be so stupid sometimes" or "you're too
negative all the time" were coded as hostile and dominant. Participants were
also given a scan to check for signs of disease. When the results were analysed,
it was found that the wives who made the most hostile comments during the
discussion had a greater degree of calcification, which indicates that plaque is
building up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
Particularly high levels of calcification were found in women who behaved in
a hostile and unfriendly way and who were interacting with husbands who were
also hostile and unfriendly, the researchers found.
However, husbands who displayed more dominance or controlling behaviour, or
whose wives displayed such behaviour, were more likely than other men to have
more severe hardening of the arteries.
Some couples who were most hostile were referred to marriage guidance by the
researchers.
None of the people with plaque build-up were classed as a medical emergency,
but some had scores which were high enough for them to be advised to talk to
their doctor.