Physiological linkage in couples and its implications for individual and interpersonal functioning: A literature review.

ABSTRACT: Do partners' levels of physiological arousal become linked in close relationships? The term physiological linkage describes covariation between people in their moment-to-moment physiological states. The current review presents a conceptual framework to guide research on linkage in romantic relationships and discusses the potential implications of being linked. Evidence of linkage was found across a broad range of physiological indices and in a variety of contexts, including during laboratory-based conflict and in daily life. Four hypotheses regarding how linkage relates to individual and interpersonal functioning are evaluated: (a) coactivation of the sympathetic nervous system or the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis is "bad," (b) moderate physiological linkage is "just right," (c) phys

SUBMITTER: Timmons AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4593729 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature