RACIAL AND GENDER EFFECTS ON THE RELAXATION RESPONSE - IMPLICATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HYPERTENSION

This study was designed to explore the effect of race and gender on th e forehead muscle tension and finger temperature response to biofeedba ck-assisted relaxation training in individuals with normal blood press ure. Forty-five subjects-18 Black and 27 White, 25 males and 20 female s-participated in eight sessions of autogenic relaxation training and thermal biofeedback. Multivariate analysis of variance of the variable s measured at baseline (systolic BE: diastolic BT: sodium excretion, a nxiety) was significant for gender. Univariate analysis showed males d ifferent from females in DBI: Na+ excretion, and trait anxiety. Pretes t values of muscle tension were similar by gender, but pretest tempera tures Mere lower in males than females. Repented measures ANOVA for mu scle tension showed a significant effect of period. For temperature, a significant effect of period gender and gender x period was observed. Males increased temperature more than females. There was no effect of history of hypertension on the relaxation response. Multiple regressi on performed on change in muscle tension and change in temperature sho wed that pretest muscle tension predicted change in muscle tension. Fo ul variables contributed to the variance in change in temperature: pre test temperature, sodium excretion, and state and trait anxiety.