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

Socioeconomic status is robustly associated with rates of death and disease. Psychophysiological stress processes are thought to account for a portion of this association. 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. 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 revealed that supportive marital relationships buffered the otherwise higher ambulatory diastolic blood pressure associated with low income. 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.