INFLUENCE OF LIFE-STYLE, COPING, AND JOB STRESS ON BLOOD-PRESSURE IN MEN AND WOMEN

We designed this study to clarify the role of work stress on long-term blood pressure control and in particular to investigate whether perce ived work stress directly affected resting blood pressure levels or wh ether there were indirect effects mediated by coping mechanisms and li festyle. Men (n=337) and women (n=317) working in a government tax off ice completed questionnaires for assessment of work-related stress, co ping strategies, and lifestyle. Seven resting blood pressure measureme nts were recorded serially on each of two occasions a week apart. Men had higher blood pressures (119.6/68.6 versus 110.9/65.6 mm Hg) than w omen; they used more ''maladaptive'' coping strategies, drank more alc ohol, and ate less healthily but exercised more than women. There were no direct associations between measures of work stress and blood pres sure. In univariate and regression analyses, both body mass index and lifestyle factors in the form of alcohol consumption, exercise, and di et were related to blood pressure in men and women. Various ''adaptive '' or ''maladaptive'' coping mechanisms were identified and independen tly related to both job stress and blood pressure levels. Women were m ore likely to use ''healthier'' or adaptive coping mechanisms than men . Thus, work stress per se had no direct effect on blood pressure, but the ways that individuals reported coping with stress were significan tly related to blood pressure, with blood pressure elevation effects a ppearing to be mediated largely by dietary and drinking habits and phy sical inactivity. The results point to the need to target individual c oping strategies and lifestyle as much as the working environment in w orkplace cardiovascular health promotion programs.