title: Association of Type D personality with the autonomic and hemodynamic response to the cold pressor test.
abstract: Mechanisms relating Type D personality to poor health are largely unknown, with autonomic nervous system function being a candidate. This study examined the physiologic response to cold stress. Undergraduates (N = 101, 84% female) underwent a cold pressor test. An electrocardiogram, impedance cardiogram, and blood pressure were recorded. Type D personality was assessed by self-report questionnaire. Type D was associated with increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure reactivity. Exploratory analyses showed Type D men to respond with increased respiratory sinus arrhythmia (i.e., higher parasympathetic activity), and decreased pre-ejection period (i.e., larger sympathetic activity), while Type D women showed a reciprocal response pattern. In conclusion, Type D personality was associated with an exaggerated hemodynamic response to cold stress, which may contribute to an increased risk of hypertension in Type D individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kupper
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pelle
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Denollet
mesh_terms: D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011312:Pressure; D064415:Type D Personality; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Autonomic nervous system; Blood pressure; Cardiovascular reactivity; Cold pressor task; Heart rate; Impedance cardiography; Type D personality