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Attachment avoidance predicts inflammatory responses to marital conflict.
Jean-Philippe Gouin1, Ronald Glaser, Timothy J Loving
1Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University 43210, USA. gouin.1@osu.edu
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
|October 28, 2008
Summary
Attachment avoidance influences immune responses to marital stress. Higher avoidance correlates with increased interleukin-6 (IL-6) production during conflict, while lower avoidance shows a decrease, impacting inflammatory responses.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Immunology
- Social Science
Background:
- Marital stress is linked to immune system dysregulation, specifically elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) production.
- Attachment style, reflecting relational expectations, may mediate physiological stress responses and inflammation during marital conflict.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of attachment style on immune responses, specifically IL-6 production, during marital conflict.
- To explore the relationship between attachment avoidance, marital interaction behaviors, and stress-induced immune dysregulation.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-five couples participated in two 24-hour hospital research unit admissions.
- Interactions included a structured social support session and a marital disagreement discussion.
- A mixed-effects model analyzed IL-6 production in relation to attachment avoidance and interaction type.
Main Results:
- Attachment avoidance significantly modulated IL-6 production during marital conflict but not social support.
- Individuals with higher attachment avoidance showed an 11% increase in IL-6 during conflict, versus a 6% decrease in those with lower avoidance.
- Greater attachment avoidance correlated with more negative and fewer positive behaviors during marital interactions.
Conclusions:
- Attachment avoidance plays a role in modulating marital behavior during conflict.
- Attachment avoidance influences stress-induced immune dysregulation, specifically affecting inflammatory responses like IL-6 production.
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