Behavioral and cardiovascular responses to interpersonal challenges among male offspring of essential hypertensives.
Behavioral, cardiovascular, and self-report of cognitive and affective responses to 2 interpersonal challenges were examined among 20 men with a positive (FH+) and 20 with a negative (FH-) family history of hypertension. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were measured throughout the laboratory session; Ss were requested to self-report positive and negative cognitions, state anger, and state anxiety that occurred during interactions with a male and female confederate. Behavioral responses to interpersonal tasks were videotaped, coded, and categorized into 4 major groupings (positive verbal, positive nonverbal, negative verbal, and negative nonverbal). FH+ individuals exhibited significantly higher resting HR and systolic BP (SBP) reactivity to both interactions than FH- counterparts. Analyses of behavioral responses for both interactions revealed significantly more negative verbal and nonverbal behavior and less positive nonverbal behavior among FH+ as compared with FH-Ss.
Semenchuk
E M
EM
Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown 26506.
Larkin
K T
KT
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001519:Behavior; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014705:Verbal Behavior