The Journal of Pain has reported research indicating that in married couples including one spouse with a chronic pain disorder, the methods in which they communicate can vastly affect that person’s ability to cope with their condition. The researchers hypothesized that invalidation, especially in an argument, can lower the afflicted spouses ability to handle the pain from their disorder. The results of the study actually indicated that men responded more negatively than women to being invalidated by their partner, perhaps because chronic pain disrupts the ability for the husband to perform traditional roles, making him more sensitive to a marital argument.
