The differential effects of acute marital distress on emotional, physiological and immune functions in maritally distressed men and women

We examined the impact of acute marital conflict pn emotion, cardiovascular arousal, and immune function in men and women. Subjects were 10 heterosexual, distressed couples, who participated in exchange for marital therapy. Each couple participated in a 40 minute conflict induction regarding an area of difficulty in their relationship. During this induction, blood pressure and heart rate were monitored and blood samples were drawn pre- and post-induction for analysis of immune change. Women responded to the experimental induction with significantly greater increases in depression and hostility, and with significantly greater increases in SBP than men. Women also responded to the acute marital distress with slight decreases in lymphocyte proliferative response to PHA, while men displayed an increase in PHA response. The sex by time interaction was significant. Change in PHA was associated with change in hostility and SBP.