New research suggests that positive and negative experiences in an individual’s close relationships have a significant impact on their body functions. The study, conducted over the course of three weeks with 4,005 participants, found that those with more positive and fewer negative experiences had lower stress, better coping mechanisms, and lower systolic blood pressure reactivity, leading to better physiological functioning in daily life. Conversely, variability in negative relationship experiences, such as conflict, was particularly predictive of outcomes like stress and overall systolic blood pressure. The researchers cautioned against interpreting the study as proof that relationship experiences have physiological effects, and instead suggest that the findings contain associations from daily life that illustrate how relationships and physical health are often intertwined. However, they do encourage future research examining other physiological states to gain a fuller understanding of how relationships may affect health. The study also highlights the importance of considering how external stressors like the COVID-19 pandemic can impact people’s relationships and therefore their physical health.