The interaction of age and cognitive representations in predicting blood pressure

The purpose of this study wets to investigate the interaction of age and co gnitive representations of hypertension in predicting blood pressure. A mod el of illness self-regulation war used ar the theoretical framework for the study. Secondary analysis of data collected from 224 hypertensive adult ou tpatients wets conducted to assess five constructs of illness. ANOVA result s indicated that older adults reported fewer hypertension-related symptoms than younger- and middle-aged adults, and that younger adults reported fewe r health behaviors to control hypertension than did middle-aged and older a dults. Results of hierarchical multiple regression models indicated that af ter adjusting for effects of demographic factors, no single cognitive repre sentation construct was a significant predictor of blood pressure. The inte ractions of age and three cognitive representation constructs were, however significant predictors of blood pressure. For younger adults. increases in the perceived Consequences. Control, and Timeline for hypertension were pr edictive of decreases in hypertension, although for older adults increased perceptions of control were associated with increased blood pressure.