Frequent arguments with partners, relatives,
or neighbours may boost the risk of death from any cause in middle age,
suggests research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology &
Community Health.
Men and those not in work seemed to be the most vulnerable, the findings indicate.
The
evidence suggests that supportive social networks and strong
relationships are good for general health and wellbeing, but the authors
wanted to find out if the stressors inherent in family relationships
and friendships had any impact on the risk of death from any cause.
They
therefore quizzed almost 10,000 men and women aged 36 to 52 about their
everyday social relationships. All the participants were already taking
part in the Danish Longitudinal Study on Work, Unemployment and Health.
The
researchers focused particularly on who, among partners, children,
other relatives, friends and neighbours, made excess demands, prompted
worries, or was a source of conflict, and how often these arose. They
also considered whether having a job made any difference.
The
health of the study participants was tracked from 2000 to the end of
2011, using data from the Danish Cause of Death Registry.
Between
2000 and 2011, 196 women (4%) and 226 men (6%) died. Almost half the
deaths were from cancer, while heart disease/stroke, liver disease, and
accidents and suicide made up the rest.
Around one
in 10 study participants said that their partner or children were a
frequent or constant source of excess demands and worries; around one in
20 (6%) and a further 2% claimed this for relatives and friends,
respectively.
Similarly, 6% had frequent arguments with their partner or children, 2% with other relatives, and 1% with friends or neighbours.
After
taking account of a range of influential factors, including gender,
marital status, long term conditions, depressive symptoms, available
emotional support, and social class, as defined by job title, the
analysis indicated that frequent worries or demands generated by
partners and/or children were linked to a 50%-100% increased risk of
death from all causes.
But constant arguing seemed to be the most harmful for health.
Frequent
arguments/conflicts with anyone in the social circle - ranging from
partners and relatives to friends and neighbours - were associated with a
doubling to tripling in the risk of death from any cause compared with
participants who said these incidents were rare.
Being
out of work seemed to amplify the negative impact of social
relationship stressors. Those who were unemployed were at significantly
greater risk of death from any cause than those who were exposed to
similar stressors but had a job.
And men seemed to
be particularly vulnerable to the worries and demands generated by
their female partners, with a higher risk of death than that normally
associated with being a man or with this particular relationship
stressor.
The authors accept that personality may
have a role in how people perceive, generate, and respond to stress, and
so may influence an individual’s risk of an early death.
But
they conclude that skills in conflict management may help to curb
premature deaths associated with social relationship stressors.
Click here for full study.
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