GENDER AND ETHNICITY IN CHILDRENS CARDIOVASCULAR REACTIVITY - 7 YEARSOF STUDY

A total of 295 children (127 White boys, 15 Black boys, 133 White girl s, and 20 Black girls) participated in reactivity examinations in 1987 (all were in 3rd grade; age, M = 9.1 years), 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, and 1993 (all were in 9th grade; age, M = 15.1 years). An analysis of residualized reactivity change values indicated consistent and signifi cant ethnicity effects (Blacks greater than Whites) for systolic and d iastolic blood pressure and for heart rate. Gender effects were also a pparent for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (boys greater t han girls). These data suggest that the transition from childhood to a dolescence is associated with a significant pattern of ethnic differen ces in reactivity, although the association of this pattern with the d evelopment of cardiovascular risk and disease remains to be ascertaine d.