Dimensions of anger-hostility and cardiovascular reactivity in provoked and angered men

• Published in: Journal of behavioral medicine Vol. 15; no. 3; pp. 257 - 272
• Main Authors: SIEGMAN, A. W, ANDERSON, R, HERBST, J, BOYLE, S, WILKINSON, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer 01-06-1992
• Subjects: Adult; Anger; Arousal; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure; Coronary Disease - psychology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heart Rate; Hostility; Humans; Illness and personality; Male; Personality Inventory; Psychology and medicine; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychometrics; Risk Factors; Type A Personality; Anger; Human; Systolic pressure; Diastolic pressure; Cardiovascular disease; Personality; Coronary heart disease; Stress; Heart rate; Risk factor; Hostility; Hemodynamics; Life habit
• ISSN: 0160-7715; 1573-3521
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00845355

This study investigated the relationship between two dimensions of anger-hostility--the expression of anger-hostility and the experience of anger-hostility--and cardiovascular reactivity in provoked and angered men. A serial subtraction task was administered to 41 male undergraduates who were provoked and angered. A measure of the expression of anger-hostility correlated positively and significantly with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) reactivity. There were no significant correlations between a measure of the experience of anger-hostility and cardiovascular reactivity. The two types of anger-hostility were also found to relate differentially to life-style variables that have been identified as risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD), with only the expression of anger-hostility showing positive relationships with these life-style CHD risk factors. These findings are discussed within the context of a similar differential relationship between the two dimensions of anger-hostility and CAD and CHD. Finally, significant negative relationships were obtained between the experience of anger-hostility and resting BP and heart rate levels. These findings are discussed within the context of other data suggesting that trait anxiety-neuroticism may have protective properties.