NEUROTICISM BUT NOT CARDIOVASCULAR STRESS REACTIVITY IS ASSOCIATED WITH LESS LONGITUDINAL BLOOD-PRESSURE INCREASE

The neuroticism scale of the German version of the Eysenck Personality Inventory was found to be negatively associated (r = - 0.38) with mea n blood pressure increase over a 4-year period in a sample of 75 Germa n adult normotensives. Alcohol consumption was also an independent pro tective factor, and combining alcohol, neuroticism and baseline blood pressure in a multiple regression equation resulted in a multiple r of 0.60. Neither heart rare nor mean blood pressure responses during men tal arithmetic were associated with long-term blood pressure increase. Thus, the present data do not support the reactivity hypothesis which links cardiovascular overreactivity to psychological stressors with r isk for hypertensive development. Results are discussed in terms of st ress coping strategies.