'Adaptive' psychosocial factors in relation to home blood pressure: A study in the general population of Southern Netherlands

Abstract

Background: Evidence is accumulating for an association between psychosocial stress and elevated blood pressure. However, studies focusing on adaptive psychosocial factors are scarce. Purpose: We examined the association between putatively adaptive psychosocial factors and home blood pressure in a population study in the Netherlands. Method: Resting blood pressure was measured of 985 female and 777 male participants between 20 and 55 years of age in their home setting. Questionnaires assessing problem-focused coping (active coping), adaptive emotion-focused coping (positive reinterpretation) and social support were completed. Results: When controlled for age, marital and socio-economic status, body mass index, parental history of hypertension, physical exercise, smoking, alcohol, coffee, and-in women-oral contraceptives, positive reinterpretation was associated with a lower prevalence of elevated home blood pressure (≥140/90 mmHg): OR=0.60, 95% CI=0.40-0.88 (P=0.009). Although all three psychosocial variables were associated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure level, in multivariable analyses, only the associations between systolic blood pressure and positive reinterpretation (β=-0.09, t=3.25, P=0.001) and active coping (β=0.07, t=2.65, P=0.008) remained significant. Conclusion: Independent of other factors, only positive reinterpretation of the situation appeared to be related to more favorable blood pressure levels.