High levels of hostility and anger expression were associated with less nocturnal blood pressure dipping irrespective of race among 86 participants.
Observational (n=86)
Are hostility and anger expression associated with reduced nocturnal blood pressure dipping?
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between hostility, anger expression, and blood pressure (BP) dipping. METHODS: A 24-hour ambulatory BP was obtained from 34 African Americans and 52 white Americans who were enrolled in a study of sleep, stress, and BP. Self-report measures were used to assess anger expression and hostility. RESULTS: After controlling for body mass index and BP status, African Americans were more likely to be classified as nondippers than white Americans. However, when hostility and anger expression were included in the model, there was no longer a significant relationship between ethnicity and BP dipping. Irrespective of race, high levels of hostility and anger were associated with less nocturnal dipping. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that psychological factors may be important in understanding ethnic differences in nocturnal BP decline.
Kim S Thomas (Sat,) conducted a observational in Blood pressure dipping (n=86). Hostility and anger expression vs. Lower levels of hostility and anger was evaluated on Blood pressure (BP) dipping. High levels of hostility and anger expression were associated with less nocturnal blood pressure dipping irrespective of race among 86 participants.