MARITAL CONFLICT AND ENDOCRINE FUNCTION - ARE MEN REALLY MORE PHYSIOLOGICALLY AFFECTED THAN WOMEN

This study assessed marital conflict behavior and endocrine function i n 90 newlywed couples. Blood samples acquired hourly from 8:00 a.m. th rough 10:00 p.m. were combined to provide composite daytime values for 3 stress hormones-epinephrine (EPI), norepinephrine (NEPI), and corti sol-and 3 related hormones (ACTH, growth hormone, and prolactin). Thes e pooled data provided a window on endocrine function in couples for w hom the day included a conflict. For wives, higher probabilities of hu sband's withdrawal in response to wife's negative behavior were associ ated with higher NEPI and cortisol levels. In addition, higher frequen cies of positive behaviors were associated with lower EPI and higher p rolactin levels among wives. Husbands' endocrine data were not associa ted with behavioral data. These findings are discussed in the context of gender models of marital conflict.