Endothelial dysfunction and negative emotions in adolescent girls

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Adolescent Psychology
• Endothelial Function

Background:

• Endothelial dysfunction is a predictor of adult cardiovascular disease.
• Adolescent negative emotions, including hopelessness, may be linked to endothelial dysfunction.
• This study investigated the relationship between specific psychopathological conditions and endothelial function in adolescents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if hopelessness, hostility, and depressive, anxiety, or conduct disorders are associated with compromised endothelial function in adolescent girls.
• To examine whether health risk behaviors mediate these associations.

Main Methods:

• Endothelial function was assessed using brachial artery reactive hyperemia in 60 adolescent girls (15-18 years).
• Correlations between psychopathological measures (hopelessness, hostility, disorders) and percent change in forearm vascular resistance (PCFVR) were analyzed.
• Mediation effects of health risk behaviors were tested.

Main Results:

• Hopelessness showed a negative association with PCFVR, independent of race and BMI.
• Conduct disorder, when not comorbid with anxiety, was linked to improved endothelial function.
• No mediation effect of health risk behaviors was found, despite their association with hopelessness and conduct disorder.

Conclusions:

• Hopelessness in adolescent girls is associated with endothelial dysfunction, indicating a potential risk for future cardiovascular disease.
• The findings suggest hopelessness may be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease in adolescent girls.
• The study also noted a surprising association between conduct disorder and better endothelial function, warranting further investigation.