Our brain and our mental health can impact our physical health drastically, even more than we used to think.
New research indicates that the way you feel about your close relationships can impact your body's functioning.
Let's find out more about the study.
How communication and body are connected
The study focused on both positive and negative relationship experiences and their effects on health.
Participants provided daily check-ins over three weeks, reporting blood pressure, heart rate, stress levels, and coping strategies.
Those with more positive experiences and fewer negatives reported lower stress, better coping, and improved physiological functioning.
Variability in negative experiences, especially conflicts, predicted stress and blood pressure reactivity.
The study suggests considering how external stressors like the COVID-19 pandemic can affect relationships and, consequently, physical well-being.
Why it's important
The findings underscore the connection between social experiences and physiological responses, prompting future investigations into different physiological states impacted by relationships.
