Women’s Center for Mind-Body Health

 New - April/May, 2008

Interaction between marriage and work stress

In a recent study from UCLA, cortisol levels were measured periodically in working couples.  Cortisol is a stress hormone that has a typical pattern during the day, being higher in the morning and then dropping off in the afternoon.

For women, but not for men,

• working women who had greater marital satisfaction had a healthier cortisol pattern

• the physiological effects of increased work stress on women was decreased in those women with greater marital satisfaction

--  Health Psychol. 2008 Jan;27(1):15-25. Saxbe DE, Repetti RL, Nishina A.
  PMID: 18230009

Other studies have demonstrated than poor marital interactions impair the immune system, slow wound healing, and increase cardiovascular disease.

Relationships are very important for mind-body health.  Spring is a time of renewal - what is the status of your important relationships? 

--- Harise Stein, MD