The influence of risk factors for developing essential hypertension upon physiological and psychological characteristics among a normotensive sample
Abstract
This project examined the influence of two identified risk factors for developing essential hypertension upon cardiovascular responses to stressors and upon personality dimensions. Risk factors studied were: a family history of essential hypertension and being classified as an exaggerated psychophysiologic hyperreactor (EPH). Classification for the factor of EPH was based upon systolic blood pressure reactivity from baseline to a cognitive task. Subjects completed several cognitive stressors. They were further divided into groups experiencing either a negative or positive affect mood induction component. Subjects were 120 white, non-smoking college age males, all of whom had resting blood pressure readings within the normotensive range. Cardiovascular, behavioral, and self-report measures were obtained. Subjects high on the EPH dimension were more responsive to stressors than were low ranking individuals. This finding was robust across mood valence. Regardless of family history status, high reactors displayed greater physiological elevations throughout the experiment and reported more intense emotions. There was minimal evidence for any combined effects of the two risk factors. Family history status in general appeared to have little influence upon the results. Results from the personality measures failed to find significant effects for the various dimensions of anger expression examined. Evidence did suggest that those who are higher reactors may have difficulty with feelings of anxiety and with the frequency and range of anger experiencing. Those who have a positive family history revealed more difficulty with negative cognitions and emotions. Of most significance, the psychological construct of affect intensity was found to be associated with physiological measurements of responsivity to stressors, resting blood pressure levels, and the individual dimension of EPH.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Ottinger, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Psychotherapy
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