Marital Quality Buffers the Association Between Socioeconomic Status and Ambulatory Blood Pressure

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic status is robustly associated with rates of death and disease. Psychophysiological stress processes are thought to account for a portion of this association. PURPOSE: Although positive and supportive relationships can buffer psychophysiological stress responses, no studies have examined whether the quality of a primary adult relationship-marriage-may buffer the negative association between socioeconomic status and stress-related disease processes. METHODS: The current study examines the interaction between income and marital quality (supportive vs. ambivalent) on individuals' daily ambulatory blood pressure, a valid and reliable indicator of cardiovascular risk. RESULTS: Results revealed that supportive marital relationships buffered the otherwise higher ambulatory diastolic blood pressure associated with low income. CONCLUSIONS: Results are consistent with the buffering hypothesis of social support and suggest that a supportive spouse may buffer stress-related autonomic processes linking low socioeconomic status to risk for cardiovascular disease.