title: Cardiovascular risk: gender differences in lifestyle behaviors and coping strategies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) does not occur until mid to late life for most adults, the presence of risk factors, such as high blood pressure (BP) and cholesterol, has increased dramatically in young adults.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study examined the relationships between gender and coping strategies, lifestyle behaviors, and cardiovascular risks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 297 (71% female) university students. Participants completed a survey to assess demographics, lifestyle behaviors, and coping strategies, and a physiological assessment including lipid and blood pressure (BP) measurements. Data collection occurred from January 2007 to May 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analyses revealed that age, ethnicity, greater body mass index (BMI), greater use of social support, and less frequent exercise were associated with higher cholesterol, while gender, age, greater BMI, and less frequent exercise were associated with higher systolic BP. There were two significant interactions: one between gender and avoidant coping and the other between gender and exercise on systolic BP, such that for men greater use of avoidant coping or exercise was associated with lower systolic BP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding how young adults manage their demands and cope with stress sets the stage for understanding the developmental process of CVD. Both coping strategies and lifestyle behaviors must be considered in appraising gender-related cardiovascular risk at an early age before the disease process has begun.
authors.affiliation: University of La Verne, La Verne, CA, USA. lmartin@laverne.edu
authors.forename: Luci A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Joseph W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Critelli
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Doster
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Powers
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Purdum
authors.forename: Meagen R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Doster
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult