title: Proneness to worry is negatively associated with blood pressure and baroreflex sensitivity: further evidence of the blood pressure emotional dampening hypothesis.
abstract: This study analyzes differences in blood pressure (BP) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in relation to trait worry. 36 high worry and 21 low worry females were selected from scores on the Penn State Worry Questionnaire. Cardiovascular parameters were obtained during rest, a self-induced worry period, and defense reflex to intense auditory stimulation. Low worry participants exhibited greater BP during baseline and greater BRS both during baseline and the self-induced worry period than high worry participants. During the defense reflex, low worries present a greater increase in BP. It is concluded that low proneness to worry is associated with greater BP and BRS. Increases in BP during aversive stimulation activated a negative feedback mechanism to inhibit distress and emotional reactivity to negative stimulation. These results support the BP-emotional dampening hypothesis and suggest that the baroreflex can be a relevant mechanism in mediating this effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis Carlos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vila
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Jaén, Spain. Electronic address: greyes@ujaen.es.
authors.forename: Gustavo A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Reyes del Paso
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Baroreflex sensitivity; Blood pressure; Defense reflex; Worry