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Hostility, social support, and ambulatory cardiovascular activity
E G Benotsch1, A J Christensen, L McKelvey
1Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA.
Insights
High hostility levels are linked to elevated blood pressure in adults. Daily interpersonal stress partially explains this connection, highlighting a key factor in cardiovascular health.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- Hostility is a personality trait associated with adverse health outcomes.
- The transactional model suggests stress mediates the link between hostility and health.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for cardiovascular disease prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between hostility levels and ambulatory blood pressure.
- To investigate the role of daily interpersonal stress as a mediator.
- To explore differences between male and female subjects.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 48 male and female students classified as high or low on the Cook-Medley Hostility (Ho) Scale.
- Measured ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate over a working day.
- Assessed perceived social support, daily interpersonal stress, and health behaviors.
Main Results:
- High hostility subjects exhibited higher mean ambulatory systolic blood pressure than low hostility subjects.
- High hostility subjects reported increased daily interpersonal stress and lower social support.
- Daily interpersonal stress partially mediated the association between hostility and blood pressure.
Conclusions:
- Hostility is independently associated with elevated ambulatory systolic blood pressure.
- Daily interpersonal stress plays a significant role in the hostility-blood pressure relationship.
- Findings support the transactional model of hostility and health.
Abstract:
The present study compared ambulatory blood pressure in male and female subjects preselected for high and low hostility levels and investigated interpersonal daily stress as a possible mediational mechanism. Ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate were measured in 48 male and female students previously classified as high or low on the Cook-Medley Hostility (Ho) Scale. Subjects wore an ambulatory monitor for a working day and also completed measures of perceived social support, daily interpersonal stress, and health behavior information. Results indicated that subjects scoring high on the Ho scale had higher mean levels of ambulatory systolic blood pressure than low Ho subjects, even when controlling for traditional risk factors, such as cigarette smoking. High Ho subjects also reported greater daily interpersonal stress and less social support than low Ho subjects. Perceived interpersonal stress partially accounted for the relationship between hostility and blood pressure. Subjects high in hostility showed greater mean ambulatory systolic blood pressure levels. Consistent with the transactional model of hostility and health, the relationship between hostility and blood pressure appears to be partially accounted for by the daily experience of interpersonal stress.