According to recent findings from the University of California, Davis, having a happy, intimate partner may elevate our spirits and aid in managing stress, particularly in our later years.
The study delved into the relationship between individuals’ self-reported emotional states and satisfaction within relationships and how these correlate with their cortisol levels — a hormone closely linked with stress. Researchers found that older couples exhibited lower cortisol levels when their partners experienced positive emotions. This effect was notably pronounced among those who expressed greater satisfaction in their relationships. The findings were detailed in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology in September.
Tomiko Yoneda, an assistant professor of psychology at the College of Letters and Science and the study’s lead author, described the experience of sharing positive emotions with a partner as akin to having a social resource. She explained that these emotions could serve as a buffer against the production of cortisol, thereby playing a crucial role in managing stress responses, especially pertinent as one age.
Cortisol is integral to our body’s stress response and overall functioning. Typically, it surges upon waking and decreases throughout the day. However, during acute stress, there is a significant spike in cortisol, which prepares the body for immediate action by increasing glucose production and metabolism. The study suggests that our emotional state throughout the day significantly influences cortisol production. Negative emotions are associated with higher cortisol levels, which, if consistently elevated, can detrimentally affect overall health.
The relationship between emotions and cortisol production is robust for older individuals. Older adults often exhibit more pronounced physiological responses to stress, yet their bodies struggle to modulate cortisol production effectively. Thus, as noted by the researchers, the quality of intimate relationships may play a pivotal role in cortisol management for older couples.
Yoneda and her team conducted a comprehensive analysis of data from 321 adults aged between 56 and 87, collected through three intensive studies carried out in Canada and Germany from 2012 to 2018. The studies involved multiple daily measurements of emotional states and cortisol levels collected via saliva samples over a week. The findings revealed that individuals’ cortisol levels were lower when their partners reported higher-than-usual positive emotions. This impact was even more substantial than the effects of the individuals’ positive emotions. It was most pronounced among older participants and those with higher relationship satisfaction.
Interestingly, the study did not find a correlation between individuals’ cortisol levels and their partners’ negative emotions. Yoneda remarked that this lack of physiological response to a partner’s negative emotions aligns with previous research, which suggests that older adults might protect their partners from experiencing physiological responses to negative emotions.
Yoneda also highlighted that these results support the psychological theory that positive emotions enhance our capacity to act fluidly in the moment, creating a positive feedback loop that strengthens this capacity over time. She emphasized that relationships, particularly high-quality ones, offer crucial support, a factor that gains even more importance as people age.
In conclusion, the study underscores the significant role that positive emotional exchanges within relationships play in health and well-being, particularly among older adults. This interplay between emotions and physiological responses highlights the importance of nurturing positive relationships and points to the potential health benefits they can bring, enhancing happiness and health throughout life.
More information: Tomiko Yoneda et al, “What’s yours is mine”: Partners’ everyday emotional experiences and cortisol in older adult couples, Psychoneuroendocrinology. DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107118
Journal information: Psychoneuroendocrinology Provided by University of California – Davis
