Couples plagued by routine marital strife are undoubtedly in an unhealthy situation.
And now a study has documented just how detrimental that squabbling can be. Researchers at the University of Utah found that people whose spouses are particularly dominant or controlling experience blood pressure hikes that may raise their risk of heart disease. Research has shown that couples who have been taught fair-fighting skills have smaller increases in blood pressure when they argue. Participants also completed questionnaires about their marital relationship. Results showed that arguing with a partner who was perceived as dominant was associated with larger increases in blood pressure than arguing with a spouse considered to be more submissive, reported lead author Timothy W. Smith, chairman of the psychology department at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.