title: The relation between hostility and concurrent levels of inflammation is sex, age, and measure dependent.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hostility may be associated with greater systemic inflammation. However, contradictory evidence exists. Certain individuals or dimensions of hostility may be more susceptible to these effects. Main and interactive effects of hostility with sex and/or age were evaluated on markers of inflammation, independently of traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  199 healthy men (81) and women (118), aged 20-64 years (M=41 ± 11 years) were recruited. Hostility was assessed using the Cook-Medley Hostility Inventory (CMHo) and ecological momentary assessments (EMA) of quarrelsome behavior and angry affect in daily living. Blood samples were drawn to measure inflammatory activity (Il-6, TNF-α, hsCRP, Il-8, Il-10, Il-18, MCP-1) and lipid oxidation (Myeloperoxidase; MPO). Correlations and hierarchical regression analyses were performed controlling for pertinent behavioral, psychological, medical, and socio-demographic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant univariate associations emerged between CMHo and Il-6, TNF-α, MCP-1 (p<.05). Hierarchical regressions showed interactions of hostility with sex (Il-6, TNF-α; p<.05) and age (hsCRP, Il-6, TNF-α; p<.05). For example, in simple slope analyses, hostility was positively related to TNF-α in women (b=0.009, p=0.006) but not men. Greater hostility was also related to greater Il-6 levels among younger women (b=. 027, p=0.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hostility, particularly cynical hostility, may be detrimental to (younger) women. The TNF-α, Il-6, CRP triad appears vulnerable to psychological and behavioral factors, and may be one mechanism by which cynical hostility (CMHo) contributes to increased cardiovascular risk in women. Prospective research is needed to verify this.
authors.affiliation: Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boisclair Demarble
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Moskowitz
authors.affiliation: Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tardif
authors.affiliation: Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address: bianca.d.antono@umontreal.ca.
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: D'Antono
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Age; Hostility; Inflammation; Psychophysiology; Sex differences