Dimensions of anger-hostility and cardiovascular reactivity in provoked and angered men

This study investigated the relationship between two dimensions of anger-hostility--the expression of anger-hostility and the experience of anger-hostility--and cardiovascular reactivity in provoked and angered men. A serial subtraction task was administered to 41 male undergraduates who were provoked and angered. A measure of the expression of anger-hostility correlated positively and significantly with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) reactivity. There were no significant correlations between a measure of the experience of anger-hostility and cardiovascular reactivity. The two types of anger-hostility were also found to relate differentially to life-style variables that have been identified as risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD), with only the expression of anger-hostility showing positive relationships with these life-style CHD risk factors. These findings are discussed within the context of a similar differential relationship between the two dimensions of anger-hostility and CAD and CHD. Finally, significant negative relationships were obtained between the experience of anger-hostility and resting BP and heart rate levels. These findings are discussed within the context of other data suggesting that trait anxiety-neuroticism may have protective properties.