You can imagine living with a partner who doesn't listen leaves you short-tempered.
But it could also shorten your life, according to researchers.
People whose partners are less attentive appear to struggle to manage their daily stress and emotions over the long term, a study has found.
And the build-up of stress could be enough to make them up to 42 per cent more likely to die prematurely.
Chronic stress is linked to the six leading causes of death – heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide – according to the American Psychological Association.
A partner who doesn't listen to you could ruin your health and even put you at a higher risk of an early death, a study at the University of Edinburgh suggests
A team of psychologists at the University of Edinburgh assessed a group of around 1,200 people aged 25 to 74 who had a spouse or lived with their partner.
Lead researcher Dr Sarah Stanton said: 'The results suggest that if people have someone they can turn to – and whom they think supports them – then it can help them deal with the stresses of everyday living.
'This has downstream associations with later health outcomes.'
Participants were assessed over a 20-year period starting between 1995 and 1996 as part of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS).
They were asked to rate how much they thought their partner understood, cared about and appreciated them.
After 10 years, in 2006, participants responded to the same questions.
Trendy mindfulness reduces stress levels by more than half by changing the structure of the brain, research revealed in October 2017.
Mindfulness, which involves paying attention to the present moment, relieves tension by 51 per cent by boosting regions of the brain associated with attention, function and compassion, a study found.
The ancient Buddhist meditation, which is championed by the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Emma Watson, and is even recommended by the NHS, also makes people feel better within themselves, the research adds.
In particular, practicing mindfulness by sharing challenging experiences with others may help to reduce social shame, which is a common trigger for stress, according to the researchers.
Lead author Professor Tania Singer from the Max Planck Institute of Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Germany, said: 'As empathy, compassion and perspective-taking are crucial competencies for successful social interactions, conflict resolution
