Spouse-pair risk factors and cardiovascular reactivity

Author(s): Linden, W.

Journal/Book: J Psychosom Res. 1996; 40: The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, England OX5 1GB. Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd. 37-51.

Abstract: Epidemiological research has identified increased risk for coronary heart disease in Type A men married to well-educated women. The present study examined mechanisms that may explain the increased risk associated with this specific spouse-pair combination. Cardiovascular and self-report responses to an individual, standardized laboratory stress task and a dyadic, interactive affect provocation task were assessed in Type A or B men married to women of either low (less than or equal to 13 years) or high (> 13 years) educational levels. Type A men with highly educated spouses (i.e., the highest risk group) also reported the greatest anger-out tendency, high trait anger, and low anger control scores. These men further exhibited elevated diastolic blood pressure at baseline and greater diastolic reactivity specific to the dyadic task than did the men in the lower risk groups. These findings, based on a laboratory study of spousal interactions, support the epidemiological high-risk designation of the Type A man with a highly educated spouse and confirm earlier conceptions that Type A research benefits more from a social interaction approach rather than from an individual trait perspective.

Note: Article CJ Frankish, Univ British Columbia, Inst Hlth Promot Res, Lpc Bldg, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada

Keyword(s): type A behaviour; education; marital satisfaction; cardiovascular reactivity; CORONARY HEART-DISEASE; A BEHAVIOR PATTERN; MARITAL INTERACTION; BLOOD-PRESSURE; PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS; PRONE BEHAVIOR; STRESS; HOSTILITY; CONCORDANCE; RESPONSES

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