Key result
Frequent social conflicts linked to ~2-fold increased all-cause mortality risk.
Why the study?
Few studies have examined the relationship between stressful social relations in private life and all-cause mortality.
Do stressful social relations increase all-cause mortality in middle-aged men and women?
Cohort (n=9,875)
Do stressful social relations increase all-cause mortality in middle-aged men and women?
Stressful social relations, particularly frequent conflicts and worries/demands, are associated with a significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality in middle-aged individuals, with men and those outside the labor force being especially vulnerable.
Stressful relations were associated with higher mortality; leaves open whether targeting conflicts improves outcomes in middle-aged adults.
BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the relationship between stressful social relations in private life and all-cause mortality. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between stressful social relations (with partner, children, other family, friends and neighbours, respectively) and all-cause mortality in a large population-based study of middle-aged men and women. Further, to investigate the possible modification of this association by labour force participation and gender. METHODS: We used baseline data (2000) from The Danish Longitudinal Study on Work, Unemployment and Health, including 9875 men and women aged 36-52 years, linked to the Danish Cause of Death Registry for information on all-cause mortality until 31 December 2011. Associations between stressful social relations with partner, children, other family, friends and neighbours, respectively, and all-cause mortality were examined using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, gender, cohabitation status, occupational social class, hospitalisation with chronic disorder 1980-baseline, depressive symptoms and perceived emotional support. Modification by gender and labour force participation was investigated by an additive hazards model. RESULTS: Frequent worries/demands from partner or children were associated with 50-100% increased mortality risk. Frequent conflicts with any type of social relation were associated with 2-3 times increased mortality risk. Interaction between labour force participation and worries/demands (462 additional cases per 100,000 person-years, p=0.05) and conflicts with partner (830 additional cases per 100,000 person-years, p<0.01) was suggested. Being male and experiencing frequent worries/demands from partner produced 135 extra cases per 100,000 person-years, p=0.05 due to interaction. CONCLUSIONS: Stressful social relations are associated with increased mortality risk among middle-aged men and women for a variety of different social roles. Those outside the labour force and men seem especially vulnerable to exposure.
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Lund et al. (2014) reported a cohort. Stressful social relations vs. Less frequent or no stressful social relations was evaluated on all-cause mortality (2-3 times increased risk). Frequent conflicts with any social relation were associated with a 2- to 3-fold increased risk of all-cause mortality, while frequent worries from partner or children increased risk by 50-100%.
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