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Allostatic Load Transfer

Meaning

The transmission of cumulative physiological wear and tear, known as allostatic load, from one individual to another within a close relationship, such as a couple. This process involves the sharing of chronic stress and its downstream hormonal and metabolic consequences, directly impacting the recipient’s biological systems. It highlights how sustained relational dynamics can directly influence an individual’s hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulation and overall health trajectory. The transfer is a measure of shared physiological burden resulting from chronic exposure to a partner’s distress or shared environmental challenges. This phenomenon underscores the profound biological impact of social relationships on individual endocrine health.