Feb. 13, 2019—If you find yourself having a stressful Valentine's Day, try this: Close your eyes and picture your one true love by your side. You might feel less frazzled when you think of your sweetheart there to support you. And this mental exercise may even do your blood pressure some good, a study in the journal Psychophysiology suggests.
The study involved people in committed romantic relationships. Researchers had them put a foot in cold water to simulate a stressful situation. One group had their partners sitting quietly in the room. A second group was told to think about their partner, who was somewhere else. A third group was asked to think only about their day.
Elevated blood pressure is one of the ways our bodies respond to stress. So the researchers measured the participants' blood pressure (and other vital signs) before, during and after the cold-water test. The findings? Compared to those who thought about their day, those who had a partner in the room and those who thought about their partner didn't see their blood pressure rise as much.
The health benefits of relationships: A key clue revealed?
Feeling supported and cared for by a partner helps us cope better with stress—even if that person isn't actually with us at the time, the research suggests. And that might also help explain why other studies have linked being in a romantic relationship with better health.
More studies are needed. But this study suggests that, even if your partner can't be with you, picturing your significant other as a source of support might help you manage daily stress. This strategy might come in handy at work, while taking a test, while having a medical procedure or in other tense situations as you go about your day.