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Type A behavior pattern, parental history of hypertension, and cardiovascular reactivity in college males

M T Allen, K A Lawler, V P Mitchell

    Health Psychology : Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association
    |January 1, 1987
    PubMed

    Insights

    Cardiovascular reactivity to stress is heightened in individuals with a parental history of hypertension, showing increased heart rate and shorter pulse transit time. Type A behavior, identified via Structured Interview, also correlates with higher heart rate and blood pressure responses.

    Area of Science:

    • Cardiovascular Physiology
    • Behavioral Medicine
    • Psychophysiology

    Background:

    • Cardiovascular disorders are a leading cause of mortality.
    • Hypertension and Type A behavior pattern are known risk factors.
    • Understanding cardiovascular reactivity to stressors is crucial for prevention.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the combined influence of parental hypertension history and Type A behavior on cardiovascular reactivity.
    • To assess physiological responses (BP, HR, PTT) to acute stressors.

    Main Methods:

    • Sixty-four college males completed Type A assessments (Structured Interview, Jenkins Activity Survey) and a parental hypertension history questionnaire.
    • Participants underwent physiological monitoring (BP, HR, PTT) during four stress-inducing tasks (cold pressor, isometric handgrip, reading comprehension, digit span).

    Main Results:

    • Type A individuals (SI classification) exhibited significantly higher heart rate across all tasks and elevated diastolic blood pressure during the cold pressor task compared to Type Bs.
    • A positive parental history of hypertension was associated with higher heart rate and shorter pulse transit time across all tasks.
    • No significant main effects for Type A-B classification were found using the Jenkins Activity Survey.
    • Limited interactions between Type A behavior and parental history were observed, dependent on the Type A classification method.

    Conclusions:

    • Parental history of hypertension is a significant factor influencing cardiovascular reactivity.
    • The Structured Interview classification of Type A behavior is more strongly associated with heightened cardiovascular responses than the Jenkins Activity Survey.
    • These findings highlight the interplay of genetic predisposition and behavioral patterns in cardiovascular health.

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