According to recent University of California, Davis, research1, having happy intimate partners not only improves our mood but also helps us control stress, particularly as we get older.
Researchers observed that older couples exhibit lower levels of the stress hormone when their partners experience positive emotions when comparing their self-reported emotional states and relationship satisfaction with their cortisol levels. This effect was even more pronounced in individuals who reported higher levels of satisfaction in their relationships.
“Having positive emotions with your relationship partner can act as like a social resource,”
said lead author Tomiko Yoneda, an assistant professor of psychology.
Cortisol Level Variance
Cortisol is a critical component of our bodies’ stress response and daily functioning. Upon awakening, cortisol undergoes a significant surge, followed by a gradual decrease throughout the day. During acute tension, cortisol levels increase, prompting the body to produce the glucose and increased metabolism necessary for immediate action.
Our cortisol production is influenced by our emotional state throughout the day. Research has consistently demonstrated that negative emotions are associated with elevated cortisol levels, and chronically elevated cortisol levels can result in overall inferior health.
In old age, these links between our emotions and cortisol may be even stronger. Older adults also tend to have stronger physiological responses to stress, but their bodies are less able to slow down their cortisol production. For older couples, intimate relationships might play a role in managing their cortisol levels, researchers said.
“Positive emotions can buffer the production of cortisol. This is especially relevant when we think about how our relationship partners might actually bolster that effect,”
said Yoneda.
Higher Positive Emotions
Between 2012 and 2018, Yoneda and her research team conducted an analysis of data from 321 adults aged 56 to 87, who participated in three intensive studies conducted in Canada and Germany.
The analysis contrasted the levels of cortisol measured by saliva samples with the self-reported affective states and relationship satisfaction of individuals. Individuals’ emotional states and cortisol levels were assessed on a daily basis for an entire week in each of the three experiments.
The study found that a person’s body produced less cortisol in moments when their partner reported higher positive emotions than usual. This effect was even stronger than when people reported their own positive emotions. It was also stronger among those who were older and people who reported being happier in their relationship.
The investigation failed to identify any correlations between an individual’s cortisol levels and the negative sentiments of their partner. Yoneda stated that this is not unexpected, as previous research indicates that older adults may protect their companions from a physiological response to negative emotions in others.
A Positive Feedback Loop
According to Yoneda, these findings are also in accordance with a psychological theory that posits that positive emotions enhance our capacity to act more quickly in the present. These experiences have the potential to establish a positive feedback loop that improves this capacity over time.
The study suggests that people in relationships can share these benefits when they experience positive emotions.
“Relationships provide an ideal source of support, especially when those are high-quality relationships. These dynamics may be particularly important in older adulthood,”
said Yoneda.
- Yoneda T, Pauly T, Ram N, et al. What’s yours is mine: Partners’ everyday emotional experiences and cortisol in older adult couples. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2024;167:107118. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107118