ABSTRACT
A wealth of research demonstrates a robust link between the quality of peoples' interpersonal relationships and their health. This chapter reviews both the negative and positive features of close romantic relationships that impact health, along with immune dysregulation as a key physiological mechanism that may be driving these effects. Researchers have started to investigate the pathways that may explain how a distressed relationship ultimately results in cardiovascular problems, premature mortality, or other health problems. Growing evidence suggests that immune function may be one potential pathway linking close relationships and health. There are two key positive relationship features that have been studied within the context of health: social support and capitalization. The social support literature is best understood within the framework of two types of support: perceived and received social support. Capitalization, the process of sharing positive personal life events with other people, has only gained empirical attention by relationship scientists.
