Comparison of hemodynamic responses, to social and nonsocial stress: Evaluation of an anger interview

Hemodynamic responses to an anger interview and cognitive and physical stre ssors were compared, and the stability of associated hemodynamic reactions examined. Participants experienced control, handgrip, counting, and mental arithmetic tests and an anger interview on two occasions. Systolic and dias tolic blood pressure, heart rate, stroke volume, and cardiac output were me asured. Total peripheral resistance was also derived. The anger interview p roduced larger, more sustained changes in blood pressure in both sessions t han the other stressors. These changes were largely a consequence of increa sed peripheral resistance. Consistent with previous findings, handgrip was associated with a resistance-type reaction whereas arithmetic was associate d with a cardiac output-type reaction. There was low-to-modest stability of hemodynamic reactions to the interview. Further research is necessary to o ptimize its utility in studies of cardiovascular function. Nevertheless, th e findings underscore the ability of ecologically relevant stressors to pro voke unique configurations of cardiovascular activity.