How aging couples' emotional and physiological associations change across positive, supportive, and conflictual discussions: Roles of capitalization and responsive behaviors

M Rosie Shrout; Alexandra E Black; Stephanie J Wilson; Megan E Renna; Annelise D Madison; Janice K Kiecolt-Glaser; Harry T Reis

doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108500

How aging couples' emotional and physiological associations change across positive, supportive, and conflictual discussions: Roles of capitalization and responsive behaviors

Biol Psychol. 2023 Feb:177:108500. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108500. Epub 2023 Jan 13.

Authors

M Rosie Shrout¹, Alexandra E Black², Stephanie J Wilson³, Megan E Renna⁴, Annelise D Madison⁵, Janice K Kiecolt-Glaser⁶, Harry T Reis²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Center on Aging and the Life Course, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA. Electronic address: shrout@purdue.edu.
² Department of Psychology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.
³ Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA.
⁴ School of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA.
⁵ Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
⁶ Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.

Abstract

Background: Couples' emotions and physiology change across interactions and based on behaviors. Aging couples' emotions and physiology may be closely related as they spend more time together and rely on each other for support. We examined aging couples' emotional and physiological associations across multiple indices and marital interactions; we also assessed how couples' capitalization and responsive behaviors during the first discussion were protective in subsequent emotional conversations.

Methods: Married couples (n = 107 couples, 214 individuals) engaged in positive event, social support, and conflict discussions. Emotional and physiological assessments across discussions included: positive and negative emotion, electrodermal activity, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rate variability. We coded partners' capitalization and responsive behaviors during the first discussion.

Results: There were ties in spouses' positive emotion, negative emotion, electrodermal activity, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rate variability during positive, supportive, and conflictual discussions. Emotional and physiological associations reflecting shared stress (negative emotion, electrodermal activity, systolic blood pressure) were stronger in couples who were less capitalizing or responsive earlier that day; associations reflecting physiological adaptation (heart rate variability) were stronger for more capitalizing and responsive couples.

Conclusion: Aging couples' emotions and physiology tracked together during discussions central to maintaining relationships, and their past behaviors carried over into future interactions and across contexts. Enthusiastic, caring, and understanding behaviors may protect partners from shared emotional and physiological stress; lacking such behaviors may increase emotional and physiological vulnerability. This research identifies behavioral, emotional, and physiological pathways connecting relationships to health in adulthood.

Keywords: Capitalization; Conflict; Health; Marriage; Relationships; Responsiveness; Stress.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aging* / psychology
Emotions*
Humans
Marriage / psychology
Social Support
Spouses / psychology

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding