Postural effects on hemodynamic response to interpersonal interaction.
Laboratory studies of stress-induced cardiovascular reactivity have been conducted predominantly with participants in a seated posture. This procedure may contribute to limited laboratory-field generalization of cardiovascular response. The present study examined hemodynamic adjustments underlying pressor responses, in addition to heart rate and systolic time intervals, during seated and standing role-played, interpersonal interaction in 60 young adults. Irrespective of gender or race, blood pressure responses to the seated and standing interactions were comparable. However, seated interactions yielded a significantly greater increase in heart rate, shortened preejection period and decreased stroke index as compared to standing. Alternatively, interacting while standing yielded a significantly increased left ventricular ejection time and total peripheral resistance in comparison to sitting. These results suggest that hemodynamic adjustments during stressful interpersonal interaction vary as a function of posture, with somewhat greater cardiac influences apparent while seated and a more pronounced vascular response while standing.
Waldstein
S R
SR
Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore 21250, USA. waldstei@umbc2.umbc.edu
Neumann
S A
SA
Merrill
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*