ABSTRACT This study examined the effects of pillow talk (i.e., communication after sexual activity) on relationship satisfaction and physiological stress responses to difficult conversations. Fifty heterosexual couples were randomly assigned to either a pillow talk condition in which they doubled their pillow talk for three weeks or a control condition. After three weeks, participants came to the lab to engage in a conflict conversation. Saliva samples taken before and after the conversation were assayed for cortisol, a physiological marker of stress. The results indicate that increased pillow talk produces greater relationship satisfaction for men (but not women), but does not benefit either group’s physiological stress responses. The findings suggest that pillow talk has distinct benefits for romantic relationships.

中文翻译：

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探讨枕边谈话对夫妻艰难对话的关系满意度和生理压力反应的影响

摘要 本研究考察了枕边谈话（即性活动后的交流）对关系满意度和对困难对话的生理压力反应的影响。50 对异性恋夫妇被随机分配到枕边谈话条件（在三周内他们的枕边语增加一倍）或控制条件。三周后，参与者来到实验室进行冲突对话。对谈话前后采集的唾液样本进行了皮质醇分析，皮质醇是压力的生理标志物。结果表明，更多的枕边谈会为男性（但不是女性）带来更高的关系满意度，但对任何一个群体的生理压力反应都没有好处。研究结果表明，枕边谈话对恋爱关系有明显的好处。