The association between marital adjustment and compliance with antihypertension regimens

The purpose of this cross-sectional survey was to determine relations between marital adjustment as measured by the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and antihypertension compliance. From seven dependent measures, we found high marital adjustment scores to be significantly correlated with less obesity, lower frequency of forgetting blood pressure medications, and less cessation of blood pressure medicine. These effects were much larger in a younger subsample of respondents who were 28 to 50 years old. The Dyadic Adjustment Scale measures the respondent's perception of the degree of affection and consensus, cohesion, and satisfaction in marriage. We conclude that the perception of positive marital interaction and communication ultimately contributes to controlled blood pressure by helping the patient to maintain healthy weight and to remember and continue taking blood pressure medication.