Routine anger suppression in males was associated with increased beta-adrenergic receptor sensitivity (P=0.01) and a greater systolic blood pressure response to a mathematics stressor (P=0.001).
Cross-Sectional (n=45)
p-value: p=0.01 and 0.001
While studies from diverse fields of research suggest a relationship between problems expressing anger and cardiovascular illness, few studies have provided a potential pathophysiological link of such a relationship. Forty-five males were classified according to one of three anger expression categories: those who did not suppress their anger (N = 13), those who partially suppressed their anger (N = 19), and those who definitely suppressed their anger (N = 13). For each, we determined lymphocyte beta-adrenergic receptor function and blood pressure responsiveness to a standardized mathematics stressor. Those subjects who routinely suppressed their expression of anger had increased beta-adrenergic receptor sensitivity (P = 0.01) (isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP production) and a greater systolic blood pressure response to the stressor (P = 0.001). Anger suppression was unrelated to the subject's age, weight, or socioeconomic status. These findings may be germane to prior clinical and epidemiologic observations relating anger expression and cardiovascular illness.
Mills et al. (Sun,) reported a cross-sectional. Anger suppression vs. No or partial anger suppression was evaluated on Lymphocyte beta-adrenergic receptor sensitivity and systolic blood pressure response to a standardized mathematics stressor (p=0.01 and 0.001). Routine anger suppression in males was associated with increased beta-adrenergic receptor sensitivity (P=0.01) and a greater systolic blood pressure response to a mathematics stressor (P=0.001).