The influence of hostility and family history of cardiovascular disease on autonomic activation in response to controllable versus noncontrollable stress, anger imagery induction, and relaxation imagery.

Autonomic activation in response to controllable versus noncontrollable stress, anger imagery induction, and relaxation imagery was studied among 80 participants between the ages of 18 and 34 years. Participants differed in level of trait hostility and family history of cardiovascular disease. Results were obtained through power spectral analyses of electrocardiograph R-R intervals, which produced an index of autonomic nervous system activation. For both male and female populations, parasympathetic regulation was diminished during anger induction for individuals with high levels of trait hostility and having a family history of cardiovascular disease. Similar results were obtained for women during the uncontrolled stress condition. Based on family history of cardiovascular disease and trait hostility, men responded differentially to relaxation imagery induction, whereas no differences were found among females.