Defensiveness and metabolic syndrome: impact of sex and age.
The association between defensiveness and metabolic burden, as well as the moderating effects of sex and age were evaluated in 199 healthy working men (N=81) and women (N=118), aged 20-64 years (M=41; S.D.=11.45). Defensiveness (Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale) and parameters of metabolic syndrome (MS; waist circumference, HDL, triglycerides, glucose, 24h ambulatory blood pressure) were obtained. In men, defensiveness was inversely related to MS burden (Beta=-.288; p=.001), as well as to individual measures of SBP, DBP, glucose and waist circumference (p<.05). In older women, high defensiveness was associated with a greater MS burden (p=.050) and glucose level (p=.005) while the reverse was true in younger women (p=.012). In conclusion, defensiveness was associated with a worse metabolic profile in older women but may be protective for men and younger women. Understanding the pathophysiological processes underlying these associations could elucidate sex and age differences and inform prevention efforts.
Lévesque
Karine
K
Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, 5000 Belanger Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H1T 1C8.
Bureau
Sébastien
S
Moskowitz
D S
DS
Tardif
Jean-Claude
JC
Lavoie
Joël
J
Dupuis
Gilles
G
D'Antono
Bianca
B
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D055442:Metabolome / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult
D001786:Blood Glucose