title: Psychosocial Correlates of Nocturnal Blood Pressure Dipping in African Americans: The Jackson Heart Study.
abstract: African Americans exhibit a lower degree of nocturnal blood pressure (BP) dipping compared with Whites, but the reasons for reduced BP dipping in this group are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to identify psychosocial factors associated with BP dipping in a population-based cohort of African Americans.
  
  
  
  This cross-sectional study included 668 Jackson Heart Study (JHS) participants with valid 24-hour ambulatory BP data and complete data on psychosocial factors of interest including stress, negative emotions, and psychosocial resources (e.g., perceived support). The association of each psychosocial factor with BP dipping percentage and nondipping status (defined as <10% BP dipping) was assessed using linear and Poisson regression models, respectively, with progressive adjustment for demographic, socioeconomic, biomedical, and behavioral factors.
  
  
  
  The prevalence of nondipping was 64%. Higher depressive symptoms, higher hostility, and lower perceived social support were associated with a lower BP dipping percentage in unadjusted models and after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, and mean 24-hour systolic BP (P < 0.05). Only perceived support was associated with BP dipping percentage in fully adjusted models. Also, after full multivariable adjustment, the prevalence ratio for nondipping BP associated with 1 SD (7.1 unit) increase in perceived support was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.88-0.99). No other psychosocial factors were associated with nondipping status.
  
  
  
  Lower perceived support was associated with reduced BP dipping in this study. The role of social support as a potentially modifiable determinant of nocturnal BP dipping warrants further investigation.
authors: Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA; tanya.spruill@nyumc.org.
authors: Tanya M
authors: TM
authors: Spruill
authors: Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA;
authors: Amanda J
authors: AJ
authors: Shallcross
authors: Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA;
authors: Gbenga
authors: G
authors: Ogedegbe
authors: Department of Psychology, St. John's University, Queens, New York, USA;
authors: William F
authors: WF
authors: Chaplin
authors: Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA;
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Butler
authors: Department of Psychology, St. John's University, Queens, New York, USA;
authors: Amy
authors: A
authors: Palfrey
authors: Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA;
authors: Daichi
authors: D
authors: Shimbo
authors: Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA;
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Muntner
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA;
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Sims
authors: Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities Research & Education, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA;
authors: Daniel F
authors: DF
authors: Sarpong
authors: Department of Public Health, Amsterdam Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Agyemang
authors: Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA;
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Ravenell
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: African Americans; Jackson Heart Study; ambulatory blood pressure monitoring; blood pressure dipping; hypertension; psychosocial factors; social support.