Hostile Conflict and Jealousy in Early Romantic Relationships Predict Interleukin-6 and Sleep Problems into Adulthood

• In Event: 3-128 - Close Relationships and Physical Health: A Lifespan Developmental Perspective

Integrative Statement

BACKGROUND: High-quality social relationships have been shown to predict better health and longevity across the lifespan (Yang et al., 2016). Adolescent and early adult relationship experiences establish patterns likely to persist over the longer term. Yet, we know little about whether and how qualities of adolescent and young adult relationships might be linked to long-term health outcomes. The current study employs observational, self-report, and biological measures to examine associations between hostility, conflict, and jealousy with health outcomes from early adolescence to adulthood.
Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a proinflammatory cytokine that is associated with the body’s response to removing harmful pathogens, is linked to many serious diseases (Kiecolt-Glaser, Gouin, & Hantsoo, 2010). Sleep difficulties are also associated with a variety of negative outcomes, including poorer physical and mental health (Cappuccio et al., 2011). The current study examines IL-6 and sleep difficulties as indicators of health functioning predicted by earlier relationship experiences.
METHOD: A socioeconomically diverse community sample of 184 individuals (58% Caucasian, 29% African American, 15% mixed race, 9% other minority groups; median family income $40,000-$59,999) was assessed 5 times over a 16-year period.
At ages 13, 21, and 24, relationship hostility was assessed using observational interaction data in which participants and their friends (at age 13) or romantic partners (at ages 21 and 24) discussed an area of disagreement. Discussions were video-recorded and coded for overpersonalizing, pressuring, avoidant, and rude behaviors (Allen et al., 1994; Allen et al., 2000). Interrater reliability was “fair” to “excellent” (intraclass r = .63-.92; Cicchetti & Sparrow, 1981). Participants reported levels of jealousy within their romantic relationships at ages 21 and 24 using the Multidimensional Jealousy Scale (Pfeiffer & Wong, 1989). Participants and their partners individually reported hostile conflict and negativity within their relationship at ages 21 and 24 using the Conflict in Relationships Scale (Wolfe, Reitzel-Jaffe, Gough, & Wekerle, 1994) and the Network of Relationships Inventory (Furman & Buhrmester, 1985).
At age 26 and 29, participants reported sleep quality over the past month using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI; Buysse et al., 1989).
At age 29, participants gave a 20 ml blood sample, which was analyzed for markers of inflammation (i.e., CRP and IL-6).
RESULTS: Figure 1 displays results of regression analyses conducted in MPlus (Version 7.2; Muthén & Muthén, 2015) using Full Information Maximum Likelihood. Controlling for participant sex, family income, observed hostility at age 13, and concurrent levels of depression, higher observed participant hostility with romantic partners in late adolescence predicted higher levels of IL-6 in adulthood. Higher participant-reported jealousy in late adolescence predicted more sleep problems in early adulthood, which in turn predicted more sleep problems in adulthood. Higher observed participant hostility in early adulthood romantic relationships predicted relative increases in sleep problems by adulthood, as did partner-reported negativity and conflict in early adulthood. Relationship qualities in early adolescence did not significantly predict adult health outcomes in the present sample.
DISCUSSION: These findings add support for the importance of positive relationships in late adolescence and early adulthood for long-term health and wellbeing.

Authors

• Emily Loeb, University of Virginia
  Presenting Author

• Meghan Costello, University of Virginia
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jessica Kansky, University of Virginia
  Non-Presenting Author

• Joseph Allen, University of Virginia
  Non-Presenting Author