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Hostility differentially predicts cardiovascular risk factors in African American and White young adults

Denise C Cooper1, Shari R Waldstein

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA.

Journal of Psychosomatic Research
|December 8, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Hostility may increase cardiovascular disease risk more in young African Americans than Whites. This study examined hostility and cardiovascular risk factors across racial groups.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Health Disparities

Background:

  • Hostility is linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
  • Racial disparities in CVD exist, potentially influenced by hostility.
  • Understanding these links is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore racial differences in the association between hostility and cardiovascular risk factors.
  • To investigate how hostility relates to physiological markers of CVD risk in White and African American young adults.

Main Methods:

  • Cook-Medley Hostility (Ho) scores and 11 cardiovascular risk factors were assessed.
  • The study included 66 healthy young adults, comprising White and African American participants.
  • Statistical analyses controlled for age, gender, and body mass index.

Main Results:

  • Hostility interacted with race to affect blood pressure (BP), cardiac index (CI), total peripheral resistance (TPR), insulin (INS), triglycerides (TG), and body fat (PBF).
  • Among African Americans, hostility was positively associated with SBP, DBP, TPR, TG, and INS, and negatively with CI.
  • Among Whites, hostility was negatively associated with TPR and PBF.

Conclusions:

  • Hostility may pose a greater cardiovascular risk to young African Americans compared to Whites.
  • These findings highlight the importance of considering race in the context of hostility and cardiovascular risk.
Abstract

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