On the Importance of Knowing Your Partner’s Views: Attitude Familiarity is Associated with Better Interpersonal Functioning and Lower Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Daily Life

BACKGROUND: Relationships have been linked to significant physical health outcomes. However, little is known about the more specific processes that might be responsible for such links. PURPOSE: The main aim of this study was to examine a previously unexplored and potentially important form of partner knowledge (i.e., attitude familiarity) on relationship processes and cardiovascular function. METHODS: In this study, 47 married couples completed an attitude familiarity questionnaire and ambulatory assessments of daily spousal interactions and blood pressure. RESULTS: Attitude familiarity was associated with better interpersonal functioning between spouses in daily life (e.g., greater partner responsiveness). Importantly, attitude familiarity was also related to lower overall ambulatory systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that familiarity with a spouse's attitudes may be an important factor linking relationships to better interpersonal and physical health outcomes.