Psychological correlates of blood pressure: a closer examination of hostility, anxiety, and engagement.

Recent studies by other investigators have shown that hypertensives are more hostile and anxious than normotensives. The first part of this study examined the relationship between blood pressure measured daily over a one-week period and responses to a series of questions specifically developed to distinguish hypertensives from normotensives. Responses from this sample of undergraduates did not distinguish those with high blood pressure from those with normal values. Mean resting blood pressure was related to hostility and anxiety factor scores among males but not among females. Our second study used a sample of municipal employees and examined blood pressure as a function of comparable anxiety and hostility scores as well as a trait measure of overall "engagement-involvement." More highly engaged workers were no different in anxiety or hostility than less engaged workers. There was some evidence of more variable blood pressure for the former group. It is suggested that stable personality traits such as hostility and anxiety may both precede and follow the diagnosis of blood pressure. For nurses it is important to assess the patient's general psychological profile as well as his of her emotional state at the time of measurement. Repeated blood pressure readings are recommended especially for highly engaged individuals.