Stress Hormone Changes and Marital Conflict: Spouses’ Relative Power Makes a Difference

Abstract

We investigated the impact of relative marital power on 72 newlywed couples’ endocrinological responses to marital conflict. Marital power was determined by comparing spouses’ reports of dependent love for one another. Less powerful spouses displayed elevated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) responses to a conflict discussion. Shared power appeared to have a beneficial effect on wives’ but not husbands’ ACTH responses. Spouses’ cortisol levels declined over time, except for wives who were less powerful and for husbands who shared power with their wives. Conflict behaviors did not differ as a function of this marital power index. These data suggest that relative levels of general emotional power in relationships may play an important role in spouses’ physiological responses to marital conflict.

Toward an Understanding of Gender Differences in the Impact of Marital Conflict on Health

“…Similar to the findings in non-human primate populations, lower socioeconomic status (SES; an indicator of social status) is associated with higher basal levels of cortisol (Cohen et al 2006). Spouses characterized as less powerful, based on an index of dependent love, respond with increased levels and longer periods of elevation of ACTH following a conflict discussion with their partner (Loving et al 2004). Furthermore, when wives are the subordinate partners, their cortisol levels are more elevated before, during, and after a conflict with their more powerful partner (Loving et al 2004).…”

“…The HPA axis is responsible for the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and gluccocorticoids (GC) such as cortisol, both of which are responsive to marital conflict. Increased cortisol output and blunted reactivity during conflict, prolonged elevations following conflict, and elevated basal levels have all been reported in studies of the physiological markers of marital conflict and relationship satisfaction in German and U.S. couples (e.g., Fehm-Wolfsdorf et al 1999;Loving et al 2004;Robles et al 2006). Chronic stimulation of cortisol and catecholamine secretion (e.g., epinephrine (EPI) and norepinephrine (NEPI)) in response to stress has also been linked to cardiovascular pathology and decreased immune function (Ader et al 1991;Baum et al 1993).…”

“…Spouses characterized as less powerful, based on an index of dependent love, respond with increased levels and longer periods of elevation of ACTH following a conflict discussion with their partner (Loving et al 2004). Furthermore, when wives are the subordinate partners, their cortisol levels are more elevated before, during, and after a conflict with their more powerful partner (Loving et al 2004). Higher scores on an index of social dependence predict higher cortisol levels in men during a conflict discussion with one's dating partner (Laurent and Powers 2006).…”

“…High-dominant compared to low-dominant participants report experiencing less distress and having higher confidence when asserting an opposing opinion during a discussion task (Gramer and Berner 2005). Several researchers have found that men's satisfaction with their relationships is not affected by the hostility characteristics of their partner interactions, whereas women are highly attuned to and influenced by a male partner's hostility (Ewart et al 1991;Gaelick et al 1985;KiecoltGlaser et al 1993;Loving et al 2004). In line with this, the extent of husbands' positive behaviors during a highly negative discussion also contributes to a faster decline in ACTH and cortisol levels in wives (Robles et al 2006).…”

A threat vs. challenge view of conflict in romantic relationships

“…One index of stress response that is common to these studies is cortisol (e.g., Kiecolt-Glaser, Glaser, Cacioppo, & MacCallum, 1997;Kiecolt-Glaser et al, 1996;Loving, Heffner, Kiecolt-Glaser, Glaser, & Malarkey, 2004). Greater cortisol reactivity is associated with more negative patterns of behavior in couples' conflict discussions (Kiecolt-Glaser, et al, 1997;Kiecolt-Glaser, et al, 1996), which is consistent with a threat-based view of conflict interaction.…”