Self-initiated rest periods reduced systolic blood pressure arousal, and diastolic pressure elevations were lowest when personality and situational control factors were congruous.
RCT (n=48)
2x2 factorial
ABSTRACT In a 2 × 2 factorial experiment, 24 internal and 24 external locus of control subjects underwent an aversive shock‐avoidance procedure. Half of the subjects were permitted to temporarily escape the situation whenever they wished by requesting a rest period, while the remaining subjects had comparable rest periods imposed on them by the experimenter. Control over initiation of the rest periods had an arousal‐reducing effect on systolic blood pressure. Diastolic pressure indicated an interaction of locus of control with the situational availability of a self‐initiated escape response, with blood pressure elevations the lowest where the personality and situational control factors were congruous.
Douglas E. DeGood (Tue,) reported a rct. Self-initiated rest periods vs. Experimenter-imposed rest periods was evaluated on Systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Self-initiated rest periods reduced systolic blood pressure arousal, and diastolic pressure elevations were lowest when personality and situational control factors were congruous.