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Understanding hypertensive behaviour--I. Preference not to disclose.
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Queensland, Australia.
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Hypertensives withhold personal information, unlike normotensives, especially under low social pressure. Disclosure requests can negatively impact hypertensive blood pressure, suggesting social approval needs influence reporting behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- Low reporting of concerns is common in hypertensive individuals.
- Previous research suggests a preference for information withholding as a potential reason.
- This study explores alternative explanations for disclosure patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate why hypertensives report fewer concerns compared to normotensives.
- To examine the impact of social pressure on information disclosure in hypertensives.
- To understand the relationship between disclosure, blood pressure regulation, and social approval.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted involving hypertensive and normotensive participants.
- Situational contexts with varying levels of social pressure to disclose personal concerns were implemented.
- Response styles and blood pressure changes in response to disclosure requests were measured.
Main Results:
- Hypertensives' disclosure levels varied with situational social pressure, indicating a flexible response style.
- Normotensives consistently reported high levels of concerns regardless of social context.
- Disclosure requests significantly impacted blood pressure regulation in hypertensives but not normotensives.
Conclusions:
- Hypertensives demonstrate a preference for withholding information, influenced by social context.
- The need for social approval may underlie observed differences between hypertensives and normotensives.
- Findings have implications for personality theory and the development of therapeutic interventions for hypertension.