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While You Are Sleeping: Marital Ambivalence and Blunted Nocturnal Blood Pressure

Author

Listed:
  • Wendy C. Birmingham

    (Psychology Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA)

  • Raphael M. Herr

    (Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany)

  • Mikel Cressman

    (Psychology Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA)

  • Neha Patel

    (College of Dental Medicine, Roseman University of Health Sciences, South Jordan, UT 84095, USA)

  • Man Hung

    (College of Dental Medicine, Roseman University of Health Sciences, South Jordan, UT 84095, USA
    Department of Orthopedic Surgery Operations, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA)

Abstract

Marital relationships offer health benefits, including a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, quality of the relationship matters; ambivalent behaviors may increase CVD risk by affecting blunted nocturnal blood pressure (BP) dipping. This study tracked daytime and nocturnal SBP and DBP in 180 normotensive individuals (90 couples; participant mean age 25.04; 91.58% white) over a 24 h period using ambulatory blood pressure monitors to explore the impact of martial quality. Results showed that perceptions of spousal ambivalence were associated with blunted nocturnal BP dipping. Perceptions of one’s own behavior as ambivalent also showed blunted nocturnal dipping. When in an ambivalent relationship, a gender interaction was found such that women were most likely to have blunted SBP dipping, but men were more likely to have blunted nocturnal DBP dipping. Overall, this study found an association between ambivalence and BP dipping, thus uncovering one virtually unexplored pathway by which marital relationships may have adverse effects on health.

Suggested Citation

  • Wendy C. Birmingham & Raphael M. Herr & Mikel Cressman & Neha Patel & Man Hung, 2024. "While You Are Sleeping: Marital Ambivalence and Blunted Nocturnal Blood Pressure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(6), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:6:p:723-:d:1406879
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wendy C. Birmingham & Anna Jorgensen & Sinclaire Hancock & Lori L. Wadsworth & Man Hung, 2023. "Social Support: The Effect on Nocturnal Blood Pressure Dipping," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-13, March.
    2. Maria Casagrande & Francesca Favieri & Viviana Langher & Angela Guarino & Enrico Di Pace & Giuseppe Germanò & Giuseppe Forte, 2020. "The Night Side of Blood Pressure: Nocturnal Blood Pressure Dipping and Emotional (dys)Regulation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-11, November.
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