Research long ago established the mind-body connection and specifically how our mental health impacts our physical health. It also indicates that quality relationships can have significant health benefits. Research also suggests what we have already have known for a while: our mental health is arguably just as important as our physical health.
In the current pandemic, many people are concerned about staying healthy and boosting their immune system to ward off disease. What is the key to understanding this phenomenon? One answer, it turns out, lies in your bloodstream.
Relationship Quality & Blood Samples
To better understand how relationships could impact your health, researchers led by Rosie Schrout, a postdoctoral researcher at Ohio State University, recruited 139 women for their study. These women had all been diagnosed with cancer and undergone treatment. Across three different sessions, the participants completed questionnaires and also provided blood samples.
In the surveys, they were asked how satisfied they were in their relationships. These surveys also included questions regarding their happiness and feelings toward their partner. The average age of the women in the study was 55 years old.
Inflammation and Relationships
This recent research, published in the Journal of Psychoneuroendocrinology, found that female breast cancer survivors who were in satisfying relationships had a lower risk for future health problems. One reason for this was that women experienced less stress. This led to lower levels of inflammation in their blood. That’s important because having inflammation levels that are too high increases the risk of cancer returning.
Of course, relationships are not the only source of stress. Dr. Rosie Schrout stated that:
“It’s important for survivors, when they’re going through this uncertain time, to feel comfortable with their partners and feel cared for and understood, and also for their partners to feel comfortable and share their own concerns.”
The researchers also found a negative correlation between the level of satisfaction the women felt toward their partners and their level of inflammation in their blood. This means that the higher their relationship satisfaction level, the lower their inflammation levels.
Why Less Stress Matters
When you think about it, experiencing less stress, in general, is important for everyday life. However, undergoing cancer treatment is inherently stressful. If you are in a relationship with a partner that includes a lot of love, compassion, and support during your cancer treatment, you are much better off. You feel more comfortable, at ease, and cared for. This relationship connection should not be discounted or minimized, especially when you are experiencing a major health crisis. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that if you have little to no relationship stress your physical health will only be positively impacted (with lower levels of inflammation).
Practical Steps to Take to Improve Your Health
Overall, the evidence shows that having quality and fulfilling relationships can have important health benefits. But for those that are focused on improving their health overall, the Harvard Medical School recommends the following ideas to help your immune system. These include:
- Avoid smoking
- Include fruits and vegetable in your diet
- Consume alcohol in moderate amounts
- Get enough sleep
- Engage in frequent exercise
- Keep your body weight at a healthy level
- Reduce sources of stress
- Be proactive with hygiene, including frequent hand washing and cooking foods (especially meat) before consumption.
There are actually many things that we can do to stay healthy even during a pandemic. This includes ensuring that our relationships are satisfying and fulfilling. The study recommended that healthcare workers be aware of any signs that their patients might be having relationship problems since it will impact their physical health. In those situations, the researchers recommended that their patients participate in couples counseling to improve their relationship.
