Daily Marital Interaction Quality and Carotid Artery Intima-Medial Thickness in Healthy Middle-Aged Adults

Abstract

Objective To examine the association between marital interaction quality during daily life and subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD). Studies have shown that marital status and quality of marriage are associated with cardiovascular health. However, little is known about the role of marital interaction quality during daily life in contributing to these effects. Methods The sample consisted of 281 healthy, employed middle-aged adults who were married or living with a partner in a marital-like relationship (mean age = 42.0 years, 88% white, 52% men). Marital interaction quality was assessed using hourly real-time Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) for 4 days, with participants rating their current or recent partner interactions on positive and negative characteristics (e.g., agreeableness and conflict). Carotid artery intima medial thickness (IMT) was assessed using ultrasound imaging. Results Adjusting for demographics, positive marital interaction was inversely associated with IMT, [b = −.02 F(1, 275) = 9.18, p = .002], and negative marital interaction was positively associated with IMT, [b = .02 F(1, 275) = 10.29, p = .001]. These associations were not accounted for by behavioral and biological cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and were consistent across age, sex, race, and education. The associations were also independent of marital interaction frequency, nonmarital social interaction quality, and personality factors. Global reports of marital quality, in contrast, were not associated with IMT. Conclusions Marital quality as measured during real-time interactions between partners was associated with subclinical cardiovascular disease in healthy middle-aged adults. This study supports the utility of real-time social interaction assessment for characterizing links between social relationships and cardiovascular health.

Daily social interactions, close relationships, and systemic inflammation in two samples: Healthy middle-aged and older adults

“…in AHAB-II). Although previous reports using the social interaction data from AHAB-II sample have measured mean negativity or mean positivity within interactions (Joseph et al, 2014), the relative frequency measure in the current report was adapted here in order to take into consideration temporal exposure as a potentially important dimension of psychosocial risk (Kamarck, 2012). We additionally examined the frequency of positive and negative interactions with close others (i.e.…”

“…), the quality of interaction, and the partners involved in the interaction. Although this EMA protocol requires considerable engagement and participation from subjects, the protocol from these two samples has provided valid measures of social interaction that associate in the expected direction with existing measures of social relationship characteristics (Janicki et al, 2006;Vella et al, 2008), and with various health outcomes, including measures of carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) (Janicki et al, 2005;Joseph et al, 2014).…”

Early Life Family Conflict, Social Interactions, and Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness in Adulthood

“…“agreeable interaction?” and “pleasant interaction?”) and two items assessed conflict in interactions (i.e. “someone in conflict with you?” and “someone treated you badly?”) (see 26). Although the positive and negative items were inversely correlated, confirmatory factor analysis revealed that they are best treated as indicators of two distinct constructs, utilizing a two-factor model.…”

“…EMA measures were completed over a 4-day monitoring period (3 working days and 1 non-working day), as described previously (26). The monitoring protocol consisted of two 2-day monitoring periods, with at least one non-monitoring day in between.…”

“…They also wore other ambulatory devices that are not relevant to this report. During waking hours on monitoring days, participants completed an hourly 43-item EMA questionnaire on the PDA, many of which have been used in previous investigations (26–27). Participants completed extensive training before entering the field for ambulatory monitoring.…”