Checklists for measuring response style in hypertensives

The need for more clearly identifying the reporting behaviour of hypertensives was addressed. An objective method of measuring reporting behaviour was developed: the Life Concerns checklist. This checklist was able to discriminate subjects defined as introspective self-doubters from those who reported either psychosomatic disorders or who blamed the environment for their problems. This checklist was also able to verify that hypertensives do have lower report rates than normotensives. The Perception of Social Acceptability of Reporting Concerns Checklist (Persolac) measured the number of specific concerns perceived to be socially acceptable to report, of which there were less for males and which in all cases varied according to whom the concerns were to be disclosed. The two checklists are presented as adjuncts to other questionnaires for use in exploring the response of individuals with essential hypertension.