Association of relationship satisfaction with blood pressure: a cross-sectional study of older adults in rural Burkina Faso

TL;DR

This study found that higher relationship satisfaction was linked to higher systolic blood pressure in older adults in rural Burkina Faso, contrary to findings in high-income countries.

Contribution

The study reveals a positive association between relationship satisfaction and systolic blood pressure in a low-income setting, highlighting the contextual nature of this relationship.

Findings

Higher relationship satisfaction was associated with higher systolic blood pressure in rural Burkina Faso.

The association lost significance after adjusting for health-related variables.

No gender moderation or association with diastolic blood pressure was found.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine the association between relationship satisfaction and blood pressure (BP) in a low-income setting and to screen for gender moderation in this context. Research conducted in high-income settings suggests that relationship satisfaction is associated with better physical and mental health outcomes.

A cross-sectional study design was employed, using both questionnaire and physical measurement data. Multiple linear regression models were calculated for systolic and diastolic BP and adjusted for age, gender, demographics/socioeconomics and other health-related variables. Gender moderation was tested using interaction terms in multivariable analyses.

A household survey was conducted in 2018 in rural northwestern Burkina Faso.

Final analysis included 2114 participants aged over 40 who were not pregnant, reported being in a partnership and had valid BP readings.

Systolic and diastolic BP levels.

A significant positive association existed between relationship satisfaction (Couples Satisfaction Index-4 score) and systolic BP (B=0.23, 95% CI (0.02 to 0.45), p=0.03) when controlling for demographics/socioeconomics. Nevertheless, this relationship lost statistical significance when additional adjustments were made for health-related variables (B=0.21, 95% CI (−0.01 to 0.42), p=0.06). There was no significant association of relationship satisfaction and diastolic BP and no evidence of gender moderation.

In contrast to many higher-income settings, we found a positive association between relationship satisfaction and systolic BP in very low-income rural Burkina Faso. Our results add to the evidence regarding the contextual nature of the association between relationship satisfaction and health, as high relationship satisfaction may not act as a health promotor in this socioeconomic context.