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Harassment, hostility, and type A as determinants of cardiovascular reactivity during competition
Insights
This study found that harassment significantly increased systolic blood pressure and heart rate. Type A individuals showed greater blood pressure changes during harassment, particularly those high in hostility.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- Anger, hostility, and Type A behavior are linked to increased cardiovascular reactivity and disease.
- Understanding the interplay between psychological factors and physiological responses is crucial for cardiovascular health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cardiovascular reactivity (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate) under competitive conditions, including goal blocking and harassment.
- To examine how Type A/B behavior patterns and anger/hostility measures influence cardiovascular responses.
Main Methods:
- Participants underwent cardiovascular monitoring (SBP, DBP, HR) during controlled conditions: competition, competition with goal blocking, and competition with harassment.
- Cardiovascular reactivity was analyzed in relation to experimental conditions, Type A/B personality patterns, and various anger/hostility assessments.
Main Results:
- Harassment conditions led to significantly greater elevations in SBP and HR compared to goal-blocking and control conditions.
- Type A individuals exhibited higher SBP changes than Type B individuals exclusively during the harassment condition.
- Exploratory analyses revealed that high scores on the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory correlated with elevated SBP reactivity, especially when combined with Type A behavior or high hostility ratings.
Conclusions:
- Harassment is a significant stressor that elevates cardiovascular reactivity.
- Hostility, particularly in Type A individuals, is a key factor in heightened cardiovascular responses to stressful situations.
- Targeting hostility may be a viable strategy for mitigating cardiovascular risks associated with anger and Type A behavior.
Abstract:
Anger/hostility and Type A behavior have been implicated in elevated cardiovascular reactivity and disease. In the present experiment systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) were monitored during conditions of competition alone or in conjunction with goal blocking or harassment. Cardiovascular reactivity was examined as a function of conditions, Type A or B pattern, and various measures of anger/hostility. Harassment elicited significantly elevated SBP and HR changes relative to goal-blocking and control conditions. Type As reliably exceeded Type Bs in magnitude of SBP change during the harassment condition only. However, exploratory analyses correlating anger/hostility measures and cardiovascular reactivity indicated that only subjects scoring high on the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory showed significantly elevated SBP reactivity as a function of Type A behavior pattern, rated hostility during the A-B interview, or outward expression of anger assessed by the Framingham Anger-In vs Anger-Out Scale.