Hypertension labelling, life events and psychological well-being.
Almost all previous studies of the psychological sequelae of hypertension labelling have lacked a prospective, longitudinal design which could allow for causal interpretations. The present study relies on questionnaire data from a hypertension screening carried out on the entire adult population of a medium-sized, Norwegian county (total number of participants = 74977). 'Labelled' individuals, i.e. previously unaware hypertensives (N = 173), false positives (N = 233), and patients in need of continued BP control (N = 474) have been followed up after 1-3 years, and comparisons are made with aware hypertensives (N = 206), patients previously treated for hypertension (N = 118), and a random sample of normotensives (N = 2326). 'Pre-labelling', baseline measures of subjective well-being had been carried out on all comparison groups in connection with the screening. Changes in psychological well-being are not significantly related to labelling or BP-status. However, there is a deterioration in psychological well-being among participants who have been subjected to one or more negative life events/stresses (other than labelling) in the preceding 12 months.
Moum
T
T
Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway.
Naess
S
S
Sørensen
T
T
Tambs
K
K
Holmen
J
J
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001143:Arousal; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology; D009664:Norway; D012803:Sick Role