Constant arguing 'increases premature death risk'

Men who were unemployed were found to be particularly
vulnerable to the effects of conflict in their lives

Having frequent arguments with partners, friends or relatives can increase the risk of death in middle-age, say Danish researchers.

Writing in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, they said men and those not in work were most vulnerable.

Dealing with worries and demands from close family was also linked to a higher mortality risk, the study said.

An individual's personality and ability to deal with stress is likely to play a role in the findings.

Although the research team, from the University of Copenhagen, calculated that constant arguing increased a man or woman's mortality risk by two or three times the normal rate, they could not fully explain the factors behind it.

Previous research suggests people with high levels of anxiety and demands from partners and children, and those who often argue with close family members, could be at a higher risk of heart disease and strokes.

Past studies also suggest that a good social support network and a wide network of friends have a positive impact on health, while personality determines, to a large extent, how we perceive and react to social situations and relations.

In this study, the researchers said physiological reactions to stress, such as high blood pressure and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, were most likely to explain the increased mortality risk.

Data on 9,875 men and women aged between 36 and 52 was used to explore the relationship between stressful social relations and premature death.

They had all taken part in the Danish Longitudinal Study on Work, Unemployment and Health, from 2000.

The study found that frequent worries or demands generated by partners and children were linked to a 50%-100% increased risk of death from all causes.

- BBC.com