Posted on 09/04/2007 8:08:13 AM PDT by Grig
A study has found that women who use the 'silent treatment' with their spouses during arguments could be on their way to early deaths.
"This is the first time we've seen anything this dramatic that predicts death or heart disease that's not physiological," Dr. Elaine Eaker, who authored the study, told CTV's Canada AM.
The study found that women who silenced themselves during marital disagreements were four times more likely to die earlier than women who expressed their feelings during arguments with their spouses.
However, Eaker found that the health of men who indulged in the same "self-silencing" practice were not adversely affected.
"Even though men and women are equally as likely to, what we call 'self-silence,' during conflict, men did not have any affects on their health if they 'self-silenced' -- it was only the women that suffered detrimental affects on their health," Eaker said.
The study, called "Marital Status, Marital Strain, and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease or Total Mortality: The Framingham Offspring Study," published in the journal Psychomatic Medicine, was based on data from the Framingham Heart Study.
The Framingham Heart study follows over 5,000 men and women in the town of Framingham, Ma. and tracks their health over an extended period of time. The study is credited with providing much of the common knowledge into how diet and exercise affect heart disease.
In Eaker's study, traditional methods of determining marital quality such as the level of satisfaction and the amount of conflict were measured. However, the study also asked what behaviour strategies were used during marital conflicts.
Eaker said the actual practice of 'self-silencing,' not depression or anger, actually caused the health problems, even when other factors such as age, socio-economic background, levels of cholesterol and obesity were taken into account.
"It was the self-silencing that seemed to be particularly detrimental," Eaker said.
The most common illness suffered by women who often used 'silent treatment' with their partners was cancer and the next common affliction was heart disease.
According to Eaker, the study she conducted was the first to look at the factors of behaviour, heart disease and mortality in the context of marital relationships.
Couples should focus on improving their communication to combat "self-silencing," Eaker said.
"I think it goes back to trying to have more constructive communication and having a safe environment where both spouses can equally share and communicate," Eaker said.
Q: Why do men usually die before their wives?
A: Because they want to...
Ping for later reading.
Thanks.
Hillary should live a long time based on the conclusion of this study.
Does this mean men are killing women? LOL
Based on this, I predict that my wife will live a long but not quiet life.
Oddly enough, men who received “the silent treatment” from their wives lived considerably longer (and actually reported enjoying televised sporting events).
I’d guess that this study really reflects the outcome of people who have all of the personality defects that are common to one who routinely practices interactions similar to and associated with the “silent treatment”.....in otherwords those persons who derive pleasure from extended conflict, whatever its nature.
This makes sense. My theory:
For men, silence is a coping mechanism under stressful situations of all kinds. In arguments, silence is a means of avoidance.
For many women, silence is a revenge strategy, which creates its own stress and is a sign of a passive-aggressive disposition.
For the record, I confess I am silent more than my wife.
Phhhhew. I have nothing to worry about then.
Great......
This makes sense, since silence is such an unnatural state for women. I suspect that a study of men who do too much shopping would reveal the same results.
Sorry, but I just don’t put a lot of stock in these studies anymore.
Combine that with our extremely advanced selective hearing and we've got some great defense and counter-measure capability.
Men have ways of dealing with it, such as taking a drive, listening to music, playing an instrument, or talking about it with a friend over a few beers. Women just keep it inside forever.
A recent study shows that 74% of these studies are complete horses**t.
Both of those two are getting long in the tooth. Speaking from experience, in his sixties, a person is no longer assured of an endless bit of time in this realm at least. We all have to meet our Maker eventually, and, as Bill once said on another matter “SOONER RATHER THAN LATER”.
Silent treatment?
Looks like my wife is destined for a long and healthy life.
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