Key result
Hopelessness, but not depression, is linked to higher SBP over 24 years.
Why the study?
Are hopelessness and depression associated with increased blood pressure over 24 years?
Cohort (n=917)
Are hopelessness and depression associated with increased blood pressure over 24 years?
Hopelessness is significantly associated with increased systolic blood pressure over a 24-year period, whereas depression is not.
Hopelessness may flag long-term SBP risk; leaves open its distinction from depression and need for prospective trials.
Hypertension is estimated to cause 12.8% of all deaths worldwide. Both literature and well-supported cognitive models indicate that hopelessness predicts depressive symptoms. This study aimed to test whether high levels of hopelessness are associated with increased blood pressure, as well as whether depression acts as a mediator between hopelessness and blood pressure. Data from the original 24-year longitudinal Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study (ECA) were analyzed via linear regression (N = 917; 60.3% female; 62.9% European American; mean age = 42.96 years, SD = 16.94). Hopelessness was found to have a significant direct relationship with systolic blood pressure (SBP, p < .05), but not with diastolic blood pressure (DBP, p > .05); while depression had no significant direct relationship with SBP or with DBP. Overall, findings indicated that hopelessness has a significant relationship with SBP. Limitations and implications are discussed.
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Roane et al. (2017) conducted a cohort in Blood pressure (n=917). Hopelessness was evaluated on Systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p=<.05). Hopelessness had a significant direct relationship with systolic blood pressure (p < .05) over a 24-year follow-up, whereas depression had no significant direct relationship with blood pressure.
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