EFFECT OF SATISFACTION WITH SOCIAL SUPPORT ON BLOOD-PRESSURE IN NORMOTENSIVE AND BORDERLINE HYPERTENSIVE MEN AND WOMEN

The relation between blood pressure (BP) and two aspects of social sup port, perceived satisfaction and structural social support network cha racteristics, were examined in adults classified as having normal BP o r borderline hypertension, Casual BPs were taken by a trained technici an on 3 separate visits, each approximately 1 week apart. Participants were categorized as borderline hypertensive if screening systolic blo od pressure (SBP) fell in the range 130-160 mmHg and/or diastolic bloo d pressure (DBP) fell in the range 85-100 mmHg; BPs below these ranges were considered normotensive. Participants underwent ambulatory BP mo nitoring. Individuals classified as normotensive reported significantl y greater support satisfaction than individuals with borderline hypert ension. Social network characteristics were not associated with BP. Du ring 24 hr of ambulatory BP monitoring, high perceived support satisfa ction was associated with lower SEP and DBP at work, home, and during sleep. These data suggest that perceived satisfaction with social supp ort is associated with lower BP. The presence of social support also m ay reduce BP levels during daily life.