Relationship of John Henryism to cardiovascular functioning at rest and during stress in youth

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cardiovascular Health
• Pediatric Health

Background:

• John Henryism describes a coping style involving active confrontation of psychosocial stressors.
• Previous research links John Henryism to increased cardiovascular disease risk in adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between John Henryism and cardiovascular functioning in children.
• To examine resting cardiovascular measures and reactivity to laboratory stressors.

Main Methods:

• Study included 173 normotensive African-American and White children aged 10–17.
• Measured John Henryism scores, resting cardiovascular parameters (blood pressure, total peripheral resistance, cardiac index), and cardiovascular reactivity to cold pressor, postural change, and exercise tests.
• Analyzed interactions with socioeconomic status (SES).

Main Results:

• High John Henryism scores correlated with higher resting blood pressure, higher total peripheral resistance, and lower cardiac index.
• An interaction with SES revealed that children from lower SES backgrounds with high John Henryism exhibited particularly elevated resting cardiovascular measures.
• No significant associations were found between John Henryism and cardiovascular reactivity to laboratory stressors.

Conclusions:

• John Henryism may impact resting cardiovascular functioning in children, particularly when combined with lower socioeconomic status.
• Coping styles may influence physiological responses to environmental stress, potentially affecting long-term health.
• Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms linking coping styles, SES, and cardiovascular health in youth.