ARGUMENTS ARE GOOD FOR YOU (AND THAT'S THE LAST WORD ABOUT I

[Daanyeer]

Arguments are good for you (and that's the last word about it)

By Daily Mail Reporter
17th August 2010

It might not feel like it at the time but arguments are good for your health, according to a new study.
The research shows that getting things off your chest and tackling disagreements head-on is better for you.

In contrast, avoiding conflict actually leads to greater stress.

Tests showed that people who sidestepped arguments instead of confronting them experienced abnormal rises and falls of the stress hormone cortisol as a result.

The study suggests we are happier and more relaxed when we tackle issues with our partner, boss or children at the time rather than letting resentments fester.
Psychologist Dr Kira Birditt, who led the research, said: 'Relationships have important influences on how we feel on a daily basis, especially the problems in our relationships.

'How we deal with problems affects our daily well-being.'
Dr Birditt found that most people simply avoid dealing with their interpersonal problems.
Her team analysed data from 1,842 adults aged 33 to 84.

Each day for eight days, participants recorded whether they had engaged in an argument or whether they had deliberately avoided one. They also gave saliva samples which were tested.
Most participants, 62 per cent, said they sidestepped arguments at some point during the study while 41 per cent dealt with a conflict head on at some time.

Avoiding conflict was associated with having more physical symptoms such as nausea or aches and pains the following day, Dr Birditt said.

Abstaining from arguments was also linked to an unusual cortisol pattern in their saliva samples, indicating they remain stressed for longer.

Typically, a person experiences a peak in cortisol levels just after waking, and the stress hormone declines throughout the day.

People who avoided arguments saw a sharper rise in their morning cortisol levels and a slower decline over time.

'This means they're less able to calm down over the course of a day,' added Dr Birditt of the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan.
Those who argued saw a lower rise in their morning cortisol levels, indicating they felt less tense.
Previous research has shown married couples who avoid arguments are more likely to die earlier than their expressive counterparts.

The study was presented in San Diego at the 118th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association.


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