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Hostility, anger control, and anger expression as predictors of cardiovascular disease

Ari Haukkala1, Hanna Konttinen, Tiina Laatikainen

  • 1Department of Social Psychology, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland. ari.haukkala@helsinki.fi

Psychosomatic Medicine
|April 23, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Low anger control, a hostility measure, significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and ischemic heart disease (IHD) events. This finding highlights anger management as a potential factor in preventing heart disease.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Cardiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Hostility is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • Previous research has explored various dimensions of hostility, but their specific associations with CVD and ischemic heart disease (IHD) require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To prospectively examine the relationship between different hostility measures (Cynical Distrust, Trait Anger, Anger Out, Anger In, Anger Control) and the incidence of CVD and IHD.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study followed 7,933 participants (25-74 years old) for 10-15 years.
  • Hostility was assessed using the Spielberger State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory and the Cynical Distrust Scale.
  • Incident CVD and IHD were identified through hospital records and death certificates; baseline cases were excluded.

Main Results:

  • Low Anger Control was associated with a higher risk of nonfatal and fatal CVD incidence (RR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.06-1.73) after comprehensive adjustments.
  • High Cynical Distrust scores initially predicted CVD and IHD but lost significance after adjusting for demographic factors.
  • Trait Anger, Anger Out, and Anger In showed no significant relationship with CVD or IHD outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Low Anger Control is identified as a significant predictor of cardiovascular events, distinct from other hostility dimensions.
  • This study suggests that anger management strategies may play a role in cardiovascular health.
  • Further research is needed to determine if Anger Control reflects specific anger responses or broader psychosocial influences.
Abstract

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