Cardiovascular reactivity in adolescent boys of low socioeconomic status previously characterized as anxious, disruptive, anxious-disruptive or normal during childhood

Background: The purpose of the study was to compare cardiovascular reactivi ty, a potential mechanism underlying the development of cardiovascular dise ase (CVD), in boys with different behavioral characteristics. Method: Eight y-nine adolescent boys with low socioeconomic status who were classified as anxious, disruptive, anxious-disruptive or boys without these characterist ics (i.e. control) during childhood were observed during a laboratory stres s experiment. Result: No significant group differences were found for resti ng levels of diastolic or systolic blood pressure (SBP), Anxious and anxiou s-disruptive boys exhibited greater SEP reactivity to the social stressor ( Social Competence Interview) compared to the disruptive and control boys. T he disruptive boys tended to engage in compromising behaviors which are ass ociated with health problems. The anxious boys were significantly more like ly to have a positive family history of hypertension. Conclusions: Boys wit h different behavioral problems (anxiety, disruptiveness) may be at risk fo r CVD via different mechanisms. Copyright(C) 2000 S. Karger AG. Basel.