Cardiovascular consequences of expressing, experiencing, and repressing anger

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cardiovascular Health
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Psychoanalytic theory suggests anger expression benefits health.
• This belief is widespread but lacks empirical support.
• Previous research has not fully examined the cardiovascular impact of anger expression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review studies on the relationship between anger expression and cardiovascular health.
• To investigate the association between anger expression, coronary heart disease (CHD), and related physiological changes.

Main Methods:

• Review of experimental and correlational studies.
• Analysis of epidemiological data on anger expression and CHD.
• Examination of physiological and hormonal changes linked to CHD pathophysiology.

Main Results:

• Full expression of anger, including vocalizations, correlates with significant cardiovascular hyperreactivity.
• Anger expression is associated with coronary heart disease (CHD).
• Neither experiencing nor repressing anger showed direct negative cardiovascular consequences, though repression has other health effects.

Conclusions:

• Vocal anger expression poses cardiovascular risks.
• The belief that expressing anger is universally beneficial for health is challenged.
• Further research is needed on the long-term health consequences of anger repression.