Aggression and cardiovascular response in children.
OBJECTIVE
To examine cardiovascular response as a function of children's aggression after controlling for the effects of known risk factors.


METHODS
Participants were 140 children in second, fourth, and sixth grades. Teachers completed the Matthews Youth Test for Health, a measure that includes questions pertaining to children's aggression. Measures of blood pressure and heart rate were obtained during baseline, academic quiz, and recovery.


RESULTS
Increasing age and body mass index were associated with increased cardiovascular responses. Aggressive children exhibited higher heart rates at baseline and lower heart rate reactivity. Aggressive children with a positive parent history of hypertension exhibited the greatest cardiovascular response.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide further support for the identification of behavioral factors that increase cardiovascular risk in children.
Schneider
Kerri M
KM
University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33101, USA.
Nicolotti
Linda
L
Delamater
Alan
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology