Love And Health: Research Examines Love's Impact On Us

Valentine's Day is around the corner. But before you chalk it up to a greeting card holiday, consider this: There's actually some real science behind those feelings of romance and affection.

Researchers from around the U.S. conducted several small studies, presented at a meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, examining the interactions between love and stress and love and infidelity, as well as the cost-benefit analysis that goes into saying "I love you."

In one of the studies, researchers looked at 34 couples who lived together and tested for the stress hormone cortisol before, during and after being separated for four to seven days. Researchers found that when the couples were separated physically, they had higher cortisol levels and had worse sleep than when they were together.

"During separations, only lengthy phone calls appeared to 'stand in' for contact," study researcher Lisa Diamond, of the University of Utah, said in a statement. "The findings can contribute to our emerging understanding of the processes through which longstanding romantic ties are beneficial for our health."

Researchers also found that love brings out the competitive side of people. Florida State University researchers found that the stronger the feelings of romantic love toward a partner, the more likely a person was to engage in aggressive and belittling behavior toward a possible attractive rival.

In addition, researchers from the MIT Sloan School of Management found that the timing of saying "I love you" for the first time to a partner is based on cost-benefit analysis. They also found that men are more likely to say "I love you" first.

"When and why we express romantic love are guided by deep-seated motivations that are best understood in an economic framework. Love confessions are akin to economic resources that people use to negotiate evolved romantic interests," study researcher Josh Ackerman, of MIT, said in a statement. His study first appeared in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology last year.

Past research on love and health also presented benefits. ABC News reported on a study showing that being with a spouse or partner is linked with a drop in blood pressure.

Another study showed a link between being in an intimate relationship and a longer life, ABC News reported.

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Comments

[bmitche]

02:45 PM on 02/01/2012

Very good article; however, In order to be loved, you have to be lovable.

[ScientistfromtheHood]

10:27 AM on 02/01/2012

"Florida State University researchers found that the stronger the feelings of romantic love toward a partner, the more likely a person was to engage in aggressive and belittling behavior toward a possible attractive rival."

So basically, if our partner is able to "bully" a prospective rival we will like our partner more and the rival less. I guess it doesn't pay to be nice.

[natal plum]

10:27 AM on 02/01/2012

Hopefully these studies didn't cost too much, funding wise. I'm thinking of a whole crap load of more study worthy causes.

[bluestarrlry]

07:18 AM on 02/01/2012

just my opinion but i think health is reached when your emotional and physical needs are in balance , the absence of stress and being mentally and physically strong

[bmitche]

02:43 PM on 02/01/2012

Absolutely !

[Mamokheseng Ramaisa]

06:53 AM on 02/01/2012

LOVE IS TOO COMPLICATED IT HURTS!!!

[aearthling59]

09:32 AM on 02/01/2012

It hurts when you go after people that are wrong for you. Find people you have a lot in common with. If you like to read hang out at the library, if you are religious go to church events, if you want men who fix things, hang out at Home Depot or Lowe's on a weekend, etc. Same for men, women love the malls on rainy weekends.

[natal plum]

10:27 AM on 02/01/2012

Hey, something to be said for flatline existence. Seriously.

[mhsden]

06:14 AM on 02/01/2012

You must like before you love ; ) !

[crabbyguy75]

05:46 AM on 02/01/2012

Cupid's dead.

[Jaybird135]

02:35 AM on 02/01/2012

I guess I'm just screwed then.

[webmind]

02:07 AM on 02/01/2012

"Love confessions are akin to economic resources that people use to negotiate evolved romantic interests,"

What the hell is that supposed to mean? Without more explanation, it sounds like so much more psychobabble.

[batqween]

12:33 PM on 02/01/2012

I think it relates to cost-benefit analysis in economics. One must measure the benefits of any spending in a business. If the copier breaks down you have to weigh the cost of a new one versus the benefits of renting a machine. I think what this article is saying is, when someone says I love you for the first time, they do so by weighing the cost of saying it (and possibly having the other person just give you a blank look) and benefit of saying it (the other person reciprocating). I think it makes sense. Whomever is the first person in the relationship to put their heart on the table has to be willing to assume a certain amount of risk.

[webmind]

10:03 AM on 02/07/2012

Using metaphors of "economic frameworks" to describe love behaviors is silly and crude. They are just trying to be clever and reductionist. Poetry was invented for a reason. Next they will be doing a statistical analysis of desire.

[merlinspinoza]

11:44 PM on 01/31/2012

it isnt love; it is purpose of life ; love being a subset

" where 2 are gathered in God's name God is also " something like that scripture says

[bluestarrlry]

07:12 AM on 02/01/2012

i think it was Jesus name

[natal plum]

10:28 AM on 02/01/2012

That the guy who works for the lawmowing service?

[Lila Wilson]

11:03 PM on 01/31/2012

Of course men are more likely to say 'I love you' first. Usually, if a woman says it, then he runs screaming for the hills.

[aearthling59]

09:33 AM on 02/01/2012

Men give "love for sex" Women give "sex for love", it has always been this way, and it will always be this way.

[natal plum]

10:29 AM on 02/01/2012

Or is it " men fall in love with the woman they are having sex with and women have sex with the man they fell in love with"?

[Robben Wainer]

07:47 PM on 01/31/2012

Bio-rhythyms can also change our metabolism, they can set of different information of fight or flight, and they can implement a response of impulse, instinct, and intuition that may altar the genetic substance, in a way that processes new states of equilibrium.

[newspost]

07:02 PM on 01/31/2012

That is why we as people crave to feel loved.

[urface]

11:48 AM on 01/31/2012

the cost-benefit analysis that goes into saying "I love you."


I imagine it's in the red.

[David4FreePress]

11:41 AM on 01/31/2012

Everything is energy. Life depends upon energy flow and human life depends upon energetic connections. The heart is the strongest energy connection, so love is our best source of external energy connection.
Children grow up healthy on love and energy connections, and always love their parents, regardless of their environment. The energetic connections of love are one of the important ways that humans, and some other species, thrive. It is nice to hear that Western medicine is catching on.

[webmind]

02:11 AM on 02/01/2012

"Children grow up healthy on love and energy connection­s"

Children also grow up unhealthy on love and energy connections. Not sure what that means.

[David4FreePress]

10:18 AM on 02/01/2012

Hi Web. Children who are neglected, as well as those who are abused grow up unhealthy. That is true. My statement relates to those who are neglected. Infants who are are not held fail to thrive. The energy connections should be recognized. That will give more meaning to efforts to change abusive parenting.

[David4FreePress]

11:00 AM on 02/01/2012

There is other evidence of this link, because people who were abused as children and who want to learn and grow and who put some effort in to energy work over time, have improved. It is known that the mind has plasticity and that gray matter structure can be changed by meditation. Anecdotal evidence shows that people who engage in energy work over time have improved their personality and reduced the effects of abuse.