FAMILY HISTORY OF HYPERTENSION - A PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

Family history of hypertension (positive and negative) and gender grou ps were compared on cardiovascular responses at rest, during stressors and during recovery. Two tasks were employed, mental arithmetic and a n anger recall interview. Both levels and reactivity measures of blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output and total peripheral resistance were included. In addition, participants filled out several questionna ires measuring state feelings during the task and recovery periods, tr ait anger/hostility and emotions. Both men and women with a positive f amily history of hypertension exhibited higher tonic levels of blood p ressure and heart rate at rest, recovery and during both tasks. They a lso exhibited greater heart rate reactivity during the mental arithmet ic task and greater blood pressure reactivity to both tasks when post- math recovery, but not initial rest, was used as a covariate. Positive family history individuals reported less trust and gregariousness, mo re depression and aggression, less awareness of somatic responses to t he tasks and less effort to relax during the post-task rest periods. F inally, significant correlations were found between low anger expressi on, low anger experience and high anger control and task SEP levels in positive family history individuals. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.