Dubai: If you can't seem to stop arguing with your partner, or those around you, then death won't be long a way off.
This was the conclusion of an extensive research done by a University of Copenhagen team that culled data from 9,875 men and women ages 36 and 52, from 2000 to explore the link between stress, social relations and premature death.
The study, published in Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that men and those who are out of work were most vulnerable to middle-age death.
"Men respond to stressors with increased levels of cortisol, which may increase their risk of adverse health outcomes," concluded the study, titled "Danish Longitudinal Study on Work, Unemployment and Health".
People who frequently argue with partners, friends or relatives are exposed to a higher risk of death in middle-age, it pointed out, citing peer-reviewed statistical evidence.
The study also suggested that there's an interplay between labour force participation and worries or demands and conflicts with partner.
It explained that physiological reactions to stress -- high blood pressure and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease -- were most likely cause of increased mortality risk.
Moreover, it showed close links between stress caused by the demands from close family and higher risk of early death.
"Frequent worries or demands from partner or children were associated with 50–100% increased mortality risk," it said in its findings, which is published online.
"Frequent conflicts with any type of social relation were associated with 2–3 times increased mortality risk."
For example, being jobless seemed to compound the already negative impact of stressful relationships.
Statistically, those who were unemployed were at a significantly higher risk of death from any cause than those who had a job, researchers showed.
The men are particularly vulnerable: "Being male and experiencing frequent worries/demands from partner led to a higher risk (135 extra cases per 100 000 person-years)."
But there's a light at the end of the tunnel, said the researchers. A person's attitude towards stress factors and ability to deal with them -- as well as a good social support -- play a huge part in coping and, therefore, warding off middle-age death.
