JOHN-HENRYISM AND BLOOD-PRESSURE AMONG NIGERIAN CIVIL-SERVANTS

Study objective-Among urban Nigerian civil servants, higher socioecono mic status is related to increased blood pressure. In the United State s, the relation between increased blood pressure and low socioeconomic status or low level of education has been found to be potentiated by high effort active coping (John Henryism) among African-Americans. Thu s, the potentiating effect of high effort active coping as measured by the John Henryism Active Coping Scale, on socioeconomic status, as me asured by job grade, was considered in relation to blood pressure in a Nigerian civil servant population. Design-The influence of John Henry ism on the association between educational level or socioeconomic stat us and increased blood pressure was examined during a comprehensive bl ood pressure survey. John Henryism refers to a strong behavioural pred isposition to actively cope with psychosocial environmental stressors. Setting-Benin City, Nigeria. Participants-Nigerian civil servant samp le of 658 adults, aged 20 to 65 years.Main results-Among those with hi gh John Henryism scores of upper socioeconomic status, whether measure d by education level or job grade, there was a trend toward higher sys tolic and diastolic blood pressures, adjusted for age and body mass in dex, in men and women, though not statistically significant. Conclusio ns-This trend is consistent with recent findings of increased blood pr essure among women and African-Americans with high John Henryism and h igh status jobs.