title: Marital Quality Buffers the Association Between Socioeconomic Status and Ambulatory Blood Pressure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Socioeconomic status is robustly associated with rates of death and disease. Psychophysiological stress processes are thought to account for a portion of this association.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Although positive and supportive relationships can buffer psychophysiological stress responses, no studies have examined whether the quality of a primary adult relationship-marriage-may buffer the negative association between socioeconomic status and stress-related disease processes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current study examines the interaction between income and marital quality (supportive vs. ambivalent) on individuals' daily ambulatory blood pressure, a valid and reliable indicator of cardiovascular risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results revealed that supportive marital relationships buffered the otherwise higher ambulatory diastolic blood pressure associated with low income.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results are consistent with the buffering hypothesis of social support and suggest that a supportive spouse may buffer stress-related autonomic processes linking low socioeconomic status to risk for cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: University of Utah, 3811 O'Hara St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA. jennycundiff@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jenny M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cundiff
authors.affiliation: University of Utah, 3811 O'Hara St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Wendy C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Birmingham
authors.affiliation: University of Utah, 3811 O'Hara St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Bert N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Uchino
authors.affiliation: University of Utah, 3811 O'Hara St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Ambulatory blood pressure; Income; Marital quality; Physical health; Relationship quality; Socioeconomic status