The roles of marriage and anger dysregulation in biobehavioral stress responses.
Physiological and behavioral correlates of anger dysregulation in adults were evaluated in the context of marital stress. Fifty-four married couples participated in a series of laboratory procedures that included electrocardiogram measures during a 15-min marital conflict interaction and an interview assessing their inability to regulate anger (anger dysregulation). Results from the multivariate regression analyses indicated that the nature of the couple's relationship, rather than individual levels of anger dysregulation, predicted lower parasympathetic cardiac activity (indexed by high-frequency heart period variability) and shorter cardiac interbeat intervals. Anger dysregulation, rather than the dyadic relationship, was predictive of greater displays of angry behavior during the marital conflict interaction. The importance of contextual factors in stress processes, such as stress due to marriage, are discussed in light of research linking poor marital quality to greater health risks for women than for men.
Carrère
Sybil
S
Department of Family and Child Nursing, University of Washington School of Nursing, Seattle, USA. carrere@u.washington.edu
Yoshimoto
Dan
D
Mittmann
Angela
A
Woodin
Erica M
EM
Tabares
Amber
A
Ullman
Jodie
J
Swanson
Catherine
C
Hawkins
Melissa
M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000786:Anger / Q000502:physiology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014743:Videotape Recording; D014861:Washington; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*