Relationships and cardiovascular risk: Perceived spousal ambivalence in specific relationship contexts and its links to inflammation.

Uchino, Bert N.; Bosch, Jos A.; Smith, Timothy W.; Carlisle, McKenzie; Birmingham, Wendy C.; Bowen, Kimberly; Light, Kathleen C.; Heaney, Jennifer; O’Hartaigh, Bríain

doi:10.1037/a0033515

Cited by 76 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 61 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In our sample, we found that 31% of caregivers saw their spouse as supportive and 69% saw their partner as ambivalent. These percentages are similar to previous research assessing relationship quality with the SRI in older adults (Uchino et al, 2013) and confirm that ambivalence is prevalent in close relationships at end of life. We also found evidence to conclude that caregivers with supportive relationships reported significantly lower burden in comparison to caregivers with ambivalent relationships.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Spouse cancer caregivers’ burden and distress at entry to home hospice

Reblin

Donaldson

Ellington

et al. 2015

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

High-quality relationships may be protective for family caregivers. This study focuses on relationship quality categories (supportive and ambivalent) in spouse caregivers in cancer home hospice. The goals of this article are to, first, describe relationship quality categories among end-of-life caregivers and, second, test the effects of relationship quality categories on caregiver burden and distress within a stress process model. Using questionnaire data collected at entry to home hospice, we found relationship quality categories were proportionally similar to those seen in noncaregiver older adults. Relationship quality significantly predicted caregiver burden, which completely mediated the relationship between caregiver relationship quality and distress. Caregivers whose social contexts place them at risk for greater distress may benefit from increased clinical attention or intervention.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Spouse cancer caregivers’ burden and distress at entry to home hospice

Reblin

Donaldson

Ellington

et al. 2015

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Higher levels of hostile behaviors were associated with higher post-meal TNF-α. Elevated proinflammatory cytokines are associated with depression and marital discord as well as increased risk for many age-related diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and frailty and functional decline (Kiecolt-Glaser et al, 2003; Kiecolt-Glaser et al, 2005; Uchino et al, 2013). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Marital discord, past depression, and metabolic responses to high-fat meals: Interpersonal pathways to obesity

Kiecolt‐Glaser

Jaremka

Andridge

et al. 2015

Psychoneuroendocrinology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Longitudinal studies have implicated both marital distress and depression in the development of the metabolic syndrome, a risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This study addressed the impact of hostile marital interactions and a mood disorder history on obesity-related metabolic responses to high-fat meals. Methods This double-blind, randomized crossover study included serial assessments of resting energy expenditure (REE), fat and carbohydrate oxidation, triglycerides, insulin, glucose, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) before and after two high-fat meals. During two separate 9.5 hour visits, 43 healthy married couples, ages 24 to 61 (mean=38.22), received either a high saturated fat meal or a high oleic sunflower oil meal, both 930 kcal and 60 g fat. The Structured Diagnostic Interview for DSM-IV assessed mood disorder history. Couples discussed a marital disagreement during both visits; behavioral coding of these interactions provided data on hostile marital behaviors. Results Men and women who displayed more hostile behaviors and who also had a mood disorder history had significantly lower post-meal REE, higher insulin, and higher peak triglyceride responses than other participants, with nonsignificant effects for fat and carbohydrate oxidation. Participants with a mood disorder history had a steeper rise in postprandial IL-6 and glucose than those without a past history. Higher levels of hostile behaviors were associated with higher post-meal TNF-α. The two meals did not differ on any outcome assessed. Conclusions People spend about 18 of every 24 hours in a postprandial state, and dining with one’s partner is a common daily event. Among subjects with a mood disorder history, the cumulative 6.75-hour difference between high and low hostile behaviors translates into 128 kcal, a difference that could add 7.6 pounds/year. Our findings illustrate novel pathways through which chronic marital stress and a mood disorder history synergistically heighten the risk for obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease.

show abstract

“…The participants were largely middle-aged (mean age = 56.06), college educated, and White (95.9%), with an average yearly income of $30,000 – $40,000. Because this was part of a larger study of spousal relationship quality and inflammation (Uchino et al, 2013), participants were excluded if they were currently on strong immunosuppressive treatment, or had HIV or cancer. Participants received monetary compensation for serving in the study.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attitude similarity and familiarity and their links to mental health: An examination of potential interpersonal mediators

Moore

Uchino

Baucom

et al. 2016

The Journal of Social Psychology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Similarity and familiarity with partner's attitudes (Byrne, Clore, & Smeaton, 1986; Sanbonmatsu, Uchino, & Birmingham, 2011) are linked to positive relationship outcomes, while interpersonal variables have been linked to mental health (e.g., Lakey & Cronin, 2008). Using multilevel models (MLMs), we modeled the associations between these attitudinal variables and mental health outcomes in 74 married couples. We found that higher levels of attitude similarity in couples were linked to lower depression, while higher levels of attitude familiarity in couples were associated with greater satisfaction with life. Mediational analyses indicated marital satisfaction and interpersonal stress mediated the link between attitude similarity and depression. Marital satisfaction also mediated the link between familiarity and satisfaction with life. This study is the first linking attitude familiarity to mental health and provides evidence that familiarity and similarity have mental health effects partly due to their interpersonal consequences.

show abstract

Relationships and cardiovascular risk: Perceived spousal ambivalence in specific relationship contexts and its links to inflammation.

Abstract: Perceptions of ambivalence during support may be a particularly important relational context in which marital ties influence health.

Cited by 76 publications

References 61 publications

Spouse cancer caregivers’ burden and distress at entry to home hospice

Spouse cancer caregivers’ burden and distress at entry to home hospice

Marital discord, past depression, and metabolic responses to high-fat meals: Interpersonal pathways to obesity

Attitude similarity and familiarity and their links to mental health: An examination of potential interpersonal mediators

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About