Abstract
Anger/hostility and Type A behavior have been implicated in elevated cardiovascular reactivity and disease. In the present experiment systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) were monitored during conditions of competition alone or in conjunction with goal blocking or harassment. Cardiovascular reactivity was examined as a function of conditions, Type A or B pattern, and various measures of anger/hostility. Harassment elicited significantly elevated SBP and HR changes relative to goal-blocking and control conditions. Type As reliably exceeded Type Bs in magnitude of SBP change during the harassment condition only. However, exploratory analyses correlating anger/hostility measures and cardiovascular reactivity indicated that only subjects scoring high on the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory showed significantly elevated SBP reactivity as a function of Type A behavior pattern, rated hostility during the A-B interview, or outward expression of anger assessed by the Framingham Anger-In vs Anger-Out Scale.
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This study was supported in part by National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Training Grant HL07426 to the University of Miami. We thank Professor T. Dembroski for his overall consultation during the study and for providing training in the administration and scoring of the Type A structured interview and components.
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Diamond, E.L., Schneiderman, N., Schwartz, D. et al. Harassment, hostility, and Type A as determinants of cardiovascular reactivity during competition. J Behav Med 7, 171–189 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00845385
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00845385