Physical fitness was associated with lower cardiovascular reactivity under stress (path coefficient -0.58), while hard-driving Type A behavior increased coronary heart disease risk.
Cross-Sectional (n=134)
Effect estimate: Path coefficient -0.58
PURPOSE: This research investigated the effects of individual characteristics on cardiovascular reactivity, and in turn on the potential for developing coronary heart disease. DESIGN: Path analysis was performed using LISREL, a structural equation modeling program providing maximum likelihood estimators and goodness-of-fit measures. SETTING: Data were collected during a health assessment program, from participants attending a Department of Defense senior service school. SUBJECTS: Participants were 134 senior-ranking male military and civilian employee volunteers, representing approximately 84% of all students in training. MEASURES: Five individual characteristics, four measures of cardiovascular reactivity, and one coronary heart disease risk potential variable were investigated. These included Physical Fitness, Type A behavior, Trait Anger and Trait Anxiety, Diastolic and Systolic Blood Pressure measures, and Coronary Heart Disease Risk. RESULTS: Significant path coefficients (critical ratios > 2) indicated that the mean diastolic blood pressure under a video stress condition was predictive of increased potential of developing coronary heart disease (.51), while hard driving Type A behavior was a cardiovascular reactivity antecedent associated with an increase in coronary heart disease risk directly (.14) and indirectly (.39). Physical fitness, on the other hand, had a positive affect in that increased fitness was related to lower cardiovascular reactivity when participants were stressed (-.58). CONCLUSIONS: Physical fitness is indirectly beneficial in reducing coronary heart disease risk potential by reducing an individual's diastolic blood pressure response, while scoring high as a Type A Hard Driving personality increases cardiovascular reactivity and coronary heart disease risk. This study is limited to middle-aged males who were generally healthy and displayed concern for their health.
Hendrix et al. (Sat,) conducted a cross-sectional in Coronary heart disease risk potential (n=134). Physical fitness and Type A behavior was evaluated on Cardiovascular reactivity and coronary heart disease risk potential (Path coefficient -0.58). Physical fitness was associated with lower cardiovascular reactivity under stress (path coefficient -0.58), while hard-driving Type A behavior increased coronary heart disease risk.