Relationships involve various social, emotional, psychological, and physical aspects that have been studied extensively for decades. Relational stress can be defined as experiencing conflicts and tensions within close personal interactions such as marriage, friendships, family relations, workplace dynamics, etc. This type of stress is characterized by prolonged exposure to negative interactions and feelings of frustration, rejection, powerlessness, guilt, worry, anxiety, fear, anger, sadness, depression, jealousy, betrayal, hostility, and loss. The consequences of chronic relational stress on cardiovascular, immune, and endocrine systems are far-reaching and long-lasting.
Chronic relational stress has been linked to an increased risk of coronary heart disease and hypertension. In a study conducted by Jaremka et al., participants who reported frequent relationship issues had higher levels of systolic blood pressure than those without relationship troubles. Similarly, in another study by Sukhova et al., individuals who perceived their relationships as unsupportive were more likely to suffer from cardiovascular problems compared to those with supportive relationships. Chronic relational stress also leads to hormonal changes in the body.
High cortisol levels are associated with chronic stress and can cause damage to the cardiovascular system over time. Higher inflammation markers like C-reactive protein (CRP) have been observed in people undergoing interpersonal conflict. This results in an imbalance between sympathetic activation and vagal tone, leading to impaired vasoconstriction and vasodilation regulation, which contributes to poor cardiovascular health.
Chronic relational stress has been shown to weaken the immune system. A study by Niven et al. found that social stressors like isolation, loneliness, and rejection are correlated with lower levels of immunoglobulins, which help protect against infections. Another study by Epel et al. revealed that chronic stress reduces natural killer cell activity, resulting in decreased resistance to pathogens.
It was observed that chronic psychological stress is associated with lower levels of lymphocytes, neutrophils, and antibodies, leading to reduced immunity. The combination of these factors increases vulnerability to infectious diseases and viruses.
Chronic relational stress can disrupt hormone production and function in the endocrine system. A study conducted by Rohleder et al. showed that romantic partnerships can affect the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPA), which regulates stress responses. It was found that individuals who experienced relationship problems had higher cortisol levels than those without relationship troubles, indicating increased stress response due to exposure to dysfunctional relationships. Similarly, another study by McEwen et al. demonstrated that social support can buffer against HPA suppression caused by chronic stress, while a lack of social support can lead to elevated cortisol levels and impaired neuroendocrine regulation. This implies that supportive relationships may have positive effects on the endocrine system.
Chronic relational stress has long-term physiological consequences on cardiovascular, immune, and endocrine systems. Research shows that it increases blood pressure and inflammation markers, weakens the immune system, and disrupts hormone production and function. These findings highlight the importance of healthy relationships for overall well-being and underscore the need for interventions to address relationship issues for better physical and mental health outcomes.
What are the long-term physiological consequences of chronic relational stress on cardiovascular, immune, and endocrine systems?
Stress is a natural response of an organism to a change that threatens its homeostasis. It has been extensively studied for decades and many researchers have come up with different classifications. One of them suggests that there are two types of stress, namely acute stress which is a short-lived reaction lasting less than five minutes and can be helpful if it motivates us to act fast, and chronic stress which can cause damage due to its longer duration and intensity.