Sunshine J.

Baker

University of

Central Florida

WALKING THROUGH

CONFLICT

RESEARCH QUESTION:

“What are the effects of

walking during conflict-

related marital

communication

episodes?”

DOES WALKING HELP CONFLICT?

I contend that walking

outdoors for thirty minutes

during conflict can improve

both mood and physiological

responses to conflict in

married couples.

Studies that show

improvements in positive

affect through walking

involved being outdoors in

nature.

Focus on marital conflict

rather than other conflict

types.

WALKING OUTDOORS DURING MARITAL

CONFLICT

Mentions of Exercise for Conflict Improvement in Communication Literature Researchers often mention exercise as

an effective way to take a break and reduce negative emotion during conflict.

Combs promotes physical activity as an effective means to resolve conflict “to progress from a refusal to change and jump back into the conflict wheel, we can employ the fiery practice of movement” (Combs, 2004, p. 13).

Walking is also recommended prior to conflict as a way of reducing stress levels. Canary recommends walking as a method of episode control to prepare for conflict.

“ATTENTIVE

WALKING IS A

SIMPLE

EXERCISE THAT

CAN EXPAND

OUR

PERSPECTIVE

AND FOSTER

OUR

APPRECIATION”

(COMBS, 2004,

P. 13).

Physiological Effects of Conflict in Marital Communication Marital conflict in the laboratory produces

substantial changes in neuroendocrine and cardiovascular function.

This physical data is often combined with responses to surveys that measure things like marital satisfaction, mood states, and affect.

Gottman’s flooding effect.

Elevated heart rate

Blood pressure increases

Hormonal responses during marital conflict include increased cortisol.

WHAT

HAPPENS

IN THE

BODY

DURING

MARITAL

CONFLICT?

IS

WALKING

THE

MAGIC

PILL?

WHAT IF THERE WAS A WAY TO

MODERATE THESE DELETERIOUS

EFFECTS BY LOWERING BLOOD

PRESSURE, CORTISOL LEVELS, AND

HEART RATE DURING CONFLICT? SOME

RESEARCHERS HAVE SUGGESTED THAT

WALKING MAY HOLD THE KEY.

Self-soothing to

reduce flooding.

WALKING AS A BREAK IN CONFLICT

Walk and Talk therapy is an accepted practice in Clinical Psychology.

Three components: physical activity, nature, and casualness (McKinney, 2013).

Doucette (2004) describes walk and talk therapy as counseling, including solution-focused therapy, done outdoors while walking.

Doucette (2004) conducted a qualitative study on behaviorally challenged youths, to discover whether they would benefit from walking outdoors while engaging in counseling. This study shows that walking while talking can reduce tension and improve outcomes .

Tension is reduced by being outdoors, and by the physical effects of exercise.

WALKING DURING CONFLICT: WALK AND

TALK THERAPY

Mood-booster.

Anxiety -reducing.

Distracts people

from stressful

events

Raises calming

hormones in the

body.

Enhances energy

and also reduces

tension.

POSITIVE EMOTIONAL IMPACTS OF

EXERCISE

WHAT

DOSE OF

WALKING

IMPROVES

MOOD?

LOW INTENSITY EXERCISE

LIKE WALKING = MOST

EFFECTIVE IN IMPROVING

MOOD.

DURATIONS OF 30 MINUTES

TO 35 MINUTES WERE FOUND

TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE.

POSITIVE MOOD INCREASES

BROUGHT ON BY EXERCISE

LASTED FOR AT LEAST 30

MINUTES AFTER EXERCISE.

PROPOSAL

I PROPOSE AN EXPLORATORY STUDY ON THE

EFFECTS OF WALKING DURING MARITAL CONFLICT.

WALKING CAN BE DONE DURING CONFLICT, OR AS A

BREAK IN CONFLICT.

MY STUDY WILL COMPARE THE TWO METHODS TO

DISCOVER WHICH PRODUCES THE BEST OUTCOMES.

RQ1: WOULD MARRIED COUPLES EXHIBIT FEWER

SIGNS OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STRAIN IF THEY

CONDUCTED THEIR CONFLICTS WHILE WALKING

OUTDOORS?

RQ2: WOULD TAKING A 30 MINUTE WALK DURING A

BREAK FROM CONFLICT ACCOMPLISH THE TASKS OF

SELF-SOOTHING?

• Marital conflict has been shown to have

numerous negative physical effects on

couples.

• Walking is a PROVEN effective self-regulatory

strategy to improve feelings of positive affect

and energy.

• If couples had a tool they could use to self-

soothe during conflict, such as walking, they

might have more productive and positive

conflict experiences.