Effects of Conflict on the Endocrine System
The endocrine system refers to how various ductless glands (such as the pituitary gland) deliver chemicals that tell other organs to perform in particular ways. The Ohio State research team headed by Janice Kiecolt-Glaser (e.g., Kiecolt-Gla- ser et al., 1993) has shown that hormones that regulate reactions to stress and metabolism are significantly affected by conflict.
These researchers found that increases in epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) and norepinephrine occur in healthy newlyweds who engaged in negative problem-solving. Epinephrine and norepinephrine are catecholmines that are largely responsible for the fight-flight syndrome, which involves increases in heart rate, blood pressure, perspiration, and so forth. Also, Kiecolt-Glaser et al. found that other hormones (e.g., ACTH and prolactin) were also affected by negative conflict interaction (i.e., increases in ACTH but decreases in prolactin). Moreover, these effects lasted at least a day (the time period of the study). Likewise, Suarez et al. (1998) found that highly hostile people had significantly higher hormonal scores and longer recovery for norepinephrine, cortisol, and testosterone. Overall, the research shows that engaging in negative conflict—even when one is healthy and is in a happy relationship— significantly alters one’s hormones in negative ways. Prolonged changes in hormones, such as the ones mentioned above, through the consistent use of negative conflict tactics likely entail debilitating health effects, such as hypertension, heart disease, and obesity, which in turn can lead to a reduction in the quality of life and eventually to death. However, the calm and positive management of conflict does not affect one’s health in negative ways.
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