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Defensiveness, cynical hostility and cardiovascular reactivity: a moderator analysis
R S Jorgensen1, K Abdul-Karim, T A Kahan
1Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, N.Y. 13244-2340, USA.
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Defensive need for approval interacts with cynical hostility to predict cardiovascular reactivity. This suggests these traits may link to stress-related heart disease.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- Cardiovascular reactivity is influenced by psychological factors.
- Conflicting personality traits like defensiveness and cynical hostility may play a role in stress responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between a defensive need for approval and cynical hostility.
- To determine their combined effect on pressor (blood pressure) and heart rate reactivity during a stress task.
Main Methods:
- Participants underwent a stressful mental arithmetic task.
- Systolic blood pressure and heart rate were monitored.
- Statistical analyses examined the interaction between defensiveness and cynical hostility.
Main Results:
- A significant interaction was found between defensiveness and cynical hostility for both systolic blood pressure and heart rate reactivity.
- Defensiveness correlated with cardiovascular reactivity only in individuals with high cynical hostility.
Conclusions:
- The findings support theories linking cynical hostility and defensiveness to cardiovascular reactivity.
- These interacting traits may be implicated in the development of stress-related coronary disease.
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