Key result
Social support moderated age-related increases in resting blood pressure, with age predicting higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure only in individuals with low social support.
Why the study?
Does social support moderate age-related differences in resting blood pressure in normotensive adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=67)
Does social support moderate age-related differences in resting blood pressure in normotensive adults?
High social support may buffer against age-related increases in resting blood pressure in normotensive individuals.
Social support may buffer age-related BP rises in normotensives; leaves open whether interventions targeting support alter hypertension risk.
The investigators examined the potential influence of social support on age-related differences in resting cardiovascular function and the potential mediators responsible for such associations in 67 normotensive women and men. Consistent with prior research, age predicted increased resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). More importantly, regression analyses revealed that social support moderated age-related differences in resting SBP and DBP, as age predicted higher resting blood pressure for individuals low in social support, but was unrelated to blood pressure for individuals high in social support. An examination of potential pathways revealed that these results were not mediated by various health-related variables, personality factors, or psychological processes. Implications for the study of social support and health are discussed.
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Uchino et al. (1999) conducted a cross-sectional in Normotensive (n=67). Social support vs. Low social support was evaluated on Resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Social support moderated age-related increases in resting blood pressure, with age predicting higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure only in individuals with low social support.
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