Relationships between hostility at ages 21, 27, 43, and 52 years old a
nd general health at age 52 were investigated in a longitudinal sample
of educated midlife women. Hostility was assessed at ages 21 and 27 u
sing the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale (HO), and at all four test sessio
ns using a California Psychological Inventory (CPI) derived hostility
scale consisting of 33 CPI items that were either duplicates or close
equivalents of HO items, Hostility at each age was negatively correlat
ed with general health at age 52. Further analyses revealed that hosti
lity at each age remained a significant health predictor at age 52 whe
n possible mediator variables at age 43 (cigarette smoking, excessive
alcohol intake, body mass index, negative life events, and social role
satisfactions) were controlled.