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Anger suppression, reactivity, and hypertension risk: gender makes a difference
C Vögele1, A Jarvis, K Cheeseman
1Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany, FRG.
Summary
Men exhibit higher cardiovascular reactivity than women, particularly when at risk for hypertension and suppressing anger. Anger suppression did not impact reactivity in women, highlighting sex-specific cardiovascular responses.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cardiology
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- Cardiovascular reactivity is influenced by gender and hypertension risk.
- Anger inhibition plays a potential role in cardiovascular health.
- Understanding sex differences in cardiovascular responses is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gender differences in cardiovascular reactivity.
- To examine the role of anger inhibition in hypertension risk.
- To explore how anger suppression affects cardiovascular responses in males and females.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 54 college students (28 female, 26 male) with high and low normal blood pressure.
- Measured continuous heart rate and blood pressure during behavioral tasks (mental arithmetic, challenge, frustration, cold pressor).
- Assessed trait anxiety, anger, anger expression, and Type A personality traits.
Main Results:
- Men showed higher cardiovascular reactivity than women.
- Individuals at risk for hypertension exhibited greater reactivity.
- In men, hypertension risk combined with anger suppression yielded the highest reactivity.
- Anger suppression did not significantly affect reactivity in women.
Conclusions:
- Cardiovascular reactivity differs significantly between genders and is influenced by hypertension risk.
- Anger suppression is linked to heightened reactivity in at-risk males, but not females.
- Findings have implications for understanding sex differences in cardiovascular disease.