PERCEPTION OF SOCIAL SUPPORT AND BLOOD-PRESSURE IN YOUNG MEN

This study investigated the association between perceived social suppo rt, blood pressure, and heart rate during rest and stress. 29 men were selected from 184 students on the basis of having high and low percei ved social support. During rest and two of the laboratory stressors, t he low-support group had higher diastolic pressure than the high-suppo rt group. Systolic blood pressure and heart rate did not differ betwee n the two groups during either rest or stress. The low-support group w as slightly older (24.8 yr.) than the high-support group (22.4 yr.), b ut the groups did not differ with respect to parental history of hyper tension, body mass index, smoking, anxiety, anger inhibition, or envir onmental stress.