Marriage Actually - An honest look at marriage

Fight it out!

by Kerri on January 25th, 2008

A new study from the University of Michigan finds that it is healthier for couples to just fight out their issues rather than let the offenses stew.

From 60 Second Science:

The 17-year survey followed 192 couples. When both spouses suppress their anger at the other when unfairly attacked, earlier death was twice as likely than in all other types.

The researchers theorize that anger is automatically produced when you think someone attacks you unfairly. If you don’t protest against unfair treatment at the time, then you grow to resent the other person. “You just stew in your own juices,” said Ernest Harburg, professor emeritus with the U-M School of Public Health and the Psychology Department, and lead author.

The suppressed anger influences other morbid systems such as hypertension, uclers, or bronchitis.

I think we’re pretty good about getting things out. Maybe not always right away, but we don’t tend to stew too much. In the same respect, we’re not the red-faced screamers who are gonna have the cops called on them either. That right there would cause us both to die of embarrassment, I think!

So, how about you? Do you tend to get angry and get it all out? Are you a stewer and have the ulcer to prove it?

h/t: Hsien
photo credit: bfurnace

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POSTED IN: General, Good Stuff About Marriage