‘Hangry’ couples fight more

Husbands and wives are more likely to quarrel while “hangry” — hungry and angry, say scientists.

Experts believe low levels of blood sugar may be linked to marital arguments, confrontations, and even domestic violence.

The antidote is to eat a carbohydrate snack or something sugary — suggesting chocolate or cake might help to placate an angry spouse.

“People can relate to this idea that when they get hungry, they get cranky,” said US lead researcher Brad Bushman, from Ohio State University. “We found that being hangry can affect our behaviour in a bad way, even in our most intimate relationships.”

Dr Bushman’s team carried out a bizarre study with 107 married couples that involved participants sticking pins into voodoo dolls representing their spouses. Each partner was given a doll and, acting alone, told to stick up to 51 pins in it at the end of each day, depending on how angry their spouse had made them.

At the same time, they used a blood glucose meter to test their blood sugar every morning and evening.

The experiment was repeated for 21 days.

The results, reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed lower blood glucose in the evening coincided with more pins being stuck in dolls. Wives tended to stick more pins in than husbands, though the difference was not significant.

“It’s simple advice but it works,” said Dr Bushman. “Before you have a difficult conversation with your spouse, make sure you’re not hungry.”