Heart disease risk linked with spouses' social support

A study in which 136 older couples (average age 63) filled out questionnaires measuring their overall marriage quality and their perceived support from their spouse, has found that calcification in the coronary arteries was highest when both partners in the relationship viewed each other as offering ambivalent support (sometimes helpful, sometimes not). When only one partner felt this way, the risk was significantly less.

Overall marital satisfaction didn’t have a significant impact on this cardiovascular risk factor.

About 30% of individuals viewed their partner as delivering positive support, while 70% viewed their partner as ambivalent.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140206101020.htm

spouse

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