Key result
Periods of emotional activation elevated ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate, while high decisional control lowered diastolic blood pressure during a 6-day monitoring period.
Why the study?
Do psychosocial factors such as emotional activation and task strain increase ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate in healthy adults?
Observational (n=120)
Do psychosocial factors such as emotional activation and task strain increase ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate in healthy adults?
Psychosocial factors such as emotional activation and task strain are reliable determinants of ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate in daily life.
Psychosocial factors may refine ambulatory BP interpretation in daily life; leaves open whether targeting emotional activation improves cardiovascular outcomes.
Ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) may be an independent predictor of cardiovascular endpoints, but little is known about its psychosocial determinants. The acute effects of psychosocial processes on cardiovascular activity during daily life were examined by random-effects regression. Healthy adults (N = 120) were monitored over a 6-day period with ABP monitors and computer-assisted self-report assessments. Task strain, social conflict, and emotional activation were rated following each ABP measurement, as were activity, posture, and other covariates. Results show that blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were elevated during periods of emotional activation (high negative affect or high arousal). Diastolic BP was lower during periods involving high decisional control, and HR was lower during high-control, low-demand activities. There were substantial individual differences in the effects of psychosocial influences on ambulatory cardiovascular activity. Psychological factors are reliable determinants of ABP, which may account in part for the unique predictive value of ABP.
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Kamarck et al. (1998) conducted an observational in Healthy adults (n=120). Psychosocial factors (task strain, social conflict, emotional activation) was evaluated on Ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate. Periods of emotional activation elevated ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate, while high decisional control lowered diastolic blood pressure during a 6-day monitoring period.
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