The personality of your husband (or wife) can be dangerous to your health

According to a long list of things to consider when choosing a mate, there is now a proof that your mate's personality can greatly affect his ability to recover - or perhaps even the ability to live. Your own omission - through a great challenge to your health.

It was a finding from a study by a research team including John M. Ruiz, associate professor of psychology at Washington State University, Karen A. Matthews and Richard Schulz of the University of Pittsburgh and Michael F. Scheier with Carnegie Mellon University.

This study involved 111 coronary artery surgery patients in their hearts and partners. Researchers assessed aspects of personality, symptoms of depression and satisfaction in the married life of each patient and their partner before and 18 months after surgery.

The main finding is that in these couples, the personality of a person has predicted a partner's level of depression 18 months later. The research results are published in the latest issue of Personality and Social Psychology Journal.

Ruiz said: 'We have known for some time that the patient's personality and mood before surgery affects mental and physical recovery after the surgery. We also know that the personality and mood of a mate can affect us in a short time. What this study demonstrates is that the characteristics of your partner's personality are also factors that determine your long-term emotional and physical recovery from a major health challenge. '

Research shows that a patient who is married to a person with neurological disorders or anxiety is 18 months after the surgery is more likely to report symptoms of depression.

(Illustration)

He said: 'In other words, the personality of the partner - completely independent of the personality of the patient - has shown a great influence on how the patient feels and progresses so well. when recovering. '

Asthenia is a major concern in the treatment of heart patients as it is increasingly recognized as a significant risk factor for heart attacks and deaths.

'Our research shows that there is an easy possibility of recognizing that the personality of a partner can increase depression, which in turn will lead to physically negative results. That is an issue that we will look at as we continue to follow these patients and be part of the new research here at Washington University. '

The study also focuses on how the patient's partner faces during the study.

Ruiz said: ' Husbands (or wives) are often a major source of daily care and take on many roles that are probably the same couple before. We found that the same results seen in patients also corresponded to their partners. Partners who care for a person who is often neurotic and anxious are more likely to report symptoms of depression as well as high levels of burden of care and stress a year and a half later. there. '

He said: 'We do not really understand that this husband (or wife) with these negative traits is doing something to cause this depression for their partner. Are they creating more stress, less help or weight on people who are having a hard time with their own needs? That is a problem that needs to be studied more. '

Ruiz notes that not all findings are negative. Optimism in the husband (or wife) seems to bring benefits to a mate.

'Husbands (or wives) taking care of an optimistic patient, in contrast to pessimists, show fewer symptoms of depression, much less stress and stress after a period of time.'

But Ruiz points out that we can hardly help when it comes to our personality (or husband) and how it affects us. He said there was a " thin silver layer " in the findings that suggested that a person's satisfaction level on their marriage was a major influence.

'Marrying with a neurotic and anxious person is only harmful to people who are unhappy in marriage,' Ruiz said. 'For those who are happy in marriage, the husband's or wife's neurological disorder seems to have little effect. So these findings not only highlight the importance of personality in marriage and health but also support the concept of 'love conquers all'. '

Thien Kim