Work

The relationship between repressive and defensive coping styles and blood pressure responses in healthy, middle-aged men and women

Year: 1990

Type: article

Abstract: The current study explored the relationship between repressive coping and blood pressure responses at rest and during a mental challenge. One hundred and twenty healthy, middle-aged men and women completed anxiety and defensiveness measures. Subjects scoring below the median on anxiety and above the median on defensiveness were categorized as repressors; those below the median on both measures as low-anxious; those above the median on anxiety and below the median on defensiveness as moderately anxious; and those above the median on both measures as defensive moderately-anxious. As predicted, repressors showed greater systolic blood pressure reactivity in response to a mental challenge relative to the other groups (p less than 0.01). Repressors also had greater resting systolic blood pressure levels than the other groups (p less than 0.001). The findings are discussed with respect to the potential influence of this response pattern on blood pressure and other CVD risk factors and behaviors.

Source: Journal of Psychosomatic Research

DOI: 10.1016/0022-3999(90)90070-k

Authors: Abby C. King, C. Barr Taylor, Cheryl A. Albright, William L. Haskell

Institutions: Stanford Medicine, Stanford University

Language: English

Topic: Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,760