Partner interactions are associated with reduced blood pressure in the natural environment: Ambulatory monitoring evidence from a healthy, multiethnic adult sample

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of partne r interactions on ambulatory blood pressure in a sample of 120 healthy adul ts who were monitored over a 6-day period. Methods: After each blood pressu re measurement, participants rated characteristics of ongoing social intera ctions, along with emotional activation, physical activity, talking, postur e, and other covariates, with computer-assisted self-report assessments. Re sults: Using multilevel modeling, we showed that blood pressure was signifi cantly lower during social interactions with one's partner relative to soci al interactions with any other person and relative to periods of not intera cting. Interactions with partners also were characterized by significantly less talking and emotional activation and more intimacy and perceived emoti onal support; however, these differences did not mediate the partner effect on blood pressure, In addition, the relative benefits of interacting with a partner were not moderated by relationship quality, gender, or race, Conc lusions: The effects of social situations on ambulatory blood pressure may represent one pathway through which social relationships affect cardiovascu lar health.