High blood pressure and marital discord: Not being nasty matters more than being nice.

Ewart, Craig K.; Taylor, C. Barr; Kraemer, Helena C.; Agras, W. Stewart

doi:10.1037/0278-6133.10.3.155

Cited by 241Attachment and Relationship DynamicsBlood Pressure and Hypertension StudiesHeart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control

High blood pressure and marital discord: Not being nasty matters more than being nice.

Ewart, Craig K., Taylor, C. Barr, Kraemer, Helena C., Agras, W. Stewart·1991·Health Psychology

DOI 10.1037/0278-6133.10.3.155

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Abstract

Theories linking anger and blood pressure (BP) reactivity to cardiovascular disease must be able to identify naturally occurring stressors that arouse emotion with sufficient frequency to cause chronic physiologic stress. We examine the impact of normal family arguments on 43 patients (24 women, 19 men) with essential hypertension. Patients and their partners discussed a threatening disagreement for 10 min while BP and conversation were recorded. Discussing problems increased BP, but the causal pathways differed by sex. In women, hostile interaction and marital dissatisfaction were associated with increased BP; "supportive" or "neutral" exchanges were unrelated to BP. In men, BP fluctuations were related only to the patient's speech rate. These findings are consistent with other research on sex differences in communication and social problem-solving styles and implicate different mechanisms (frequent anger, active coping) through which marital discord could increase risk. Implications for intervention are considered.

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The results confirm earlier results on ANS activation in response to couple conflict, such as increased HR, BP and catecholamines.
“Overall, these results confirm earlier results on ANS activation in response to couple conflict, such as increased HR, BP and catecholamines (Ewart et al., 1991;Flor et al., 1995;Nealey-Moore et al., 2007).”
From Sex-specific effects of intranasal oxytocin on autonomic nervous system and emotional responses to couple conflict (2013) · cites this paper as Ewart et al., 1991

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Authors: Ewart, C. K., Taylor, C. B., Kraemer, H. C., & Agras, W. S.
Affiliations: Johns Hopkins University (US)
ORCID: Ewart, Craig K.
Taylor, C. Barr
Kraemer, Helena C.
Agras, W. Stewart
Venue: Health Psychology
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 1991
Volume: 10
Issue: 3
Pages: 155-163
ISSN: 0278-6133 (ISSN-L)
1930-7810
DOI: 10.1037/0278-6133.10.3.155
OpenAlex: W2047094339
Cited by: 241
References: 29
Citations by year: 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 11
FWCI: 6.68
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Health Psychology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Institutes of Health (5r01hl036298-04)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01-HL 36298)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Blood Pressure and Hypertension Studies
Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
Keywords: essential hypertension, marital conflict, blood pressure reactivity, hostility, marital dissatisfaction, sex differences, speech rate, anger, cardiovascular risk, marital communication
MeSH terms: Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Affect, Aged, Arousal, Conflict, Psychological, Female, Humans, Hypertension, Internal-External Control, Male, Marriage, Middle Aged, Problem Solving, Social Environment, Social Support

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High blood pressure and marital discord: Not being nasty matters more than being nice.

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