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Cardiovascular Reactivity in Hypertensives: Differential Effect of Expressing and Inhibiting Emotions during Moments of Interpersonal Stress

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2014

Marilda E. Novaes Lipp ,
Márcia M. Bignotto Pereira ,
Ana Paula Justo  and
Thania M. Gomes de Matos
Marilda E. Novaes Lipp*
Affiliation:
Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
Márcia M. Bignotto Pereira
Affiliation:
Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
Ana Paula Justo
Affiliation:
Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
Thania M. Gomes de Matos
Affiliation:
Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Marilda E. Novaes Lipp, Ph.D., Rua Tiradentes, 289, Conj. 91, Guanabara, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil 13023-190. Telephone and Fax: 55 19 3234-0288. E-mail: mlipp@estresse.com.br
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Abstract

This study investigated cardiovascular reactivity of hypertensive adults during periods of emotional stress. Two types of instructions were given at different moments, to the same subject, either to express or to suppress feelings during role-play. Expressing, but not inhibiting, emotions elicited significantly higher reactivity during responding to negative scenes, followed by responding during the positive interactions. Blood pressure increases in both expressing and inhibiting conditions, were also found during the instruction periods. Results indicated that socially demanding situations represent a stressor whose effects may vary depending on whether or not respondents regulate expression of emotions. It is suggested that the difficulty in expressing emotions found in some hypertensive individuals may have the function of controlling or reducing blood pressure reactivity.

En este estudio investigamos la reactividad cardiovascular de adultos hipertensos durante períodos de estrés emocional. Se dieron dos tipos de instrucciones en diferentes momentos al mismo sujeto: que expresara o que suprimiera sus emociones durante un juego de roles. Al expresar, pero no al inhibir, las emociones elicitaron reactividad significativamente más alta cuando los sujetos respondían a escenas negativas, seguido de su respuesta durante interacciones positivas. También se encontraron incrementos en la presión sanguínea durante los períodos de instrucción, tanto en las condiciones de expresión como en las de inhibición. Los resultados indicaron que las situaciones socialmente exigentes representan un estresor cuyos efectos pueden variar en función de si los sujetos regulan la expresión de sus emociones. Se sugiere que la dificultad en la expresión de emociones encontrada en algunos individuos hipertensos puede tener la función de controlar o reducir la reactividad de la presión sanguínea.

Keywords

cardiovascular reactivityhypertensioninterpersonal stressexpression of emotionsinhibition of emotionsreactividad cardiovascularhipertensiónestrés interpersonalexpresión de emocionesinhibición de emociones
Type
Articles
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , November 2006 , pp. 154 - 161
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

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