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. 2008 Mar;27(2S):S155-62.
doi: 10.1037/0278-6133.27.2(Suppl.).S155.

Hostility moderates the effects of social support and intimacy on blood pressure in daily social interactions

Elizabeth J Vella  1 , Thomas W Kamarck, Saul Shiffman
Affiliations

Hostility moderates the effects of social support and intimacy on blood pressure in daily social interactions

Elizabeth J Vella et al. Health Psychol. 2008 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: This study sought to determine the role of hostility in moderating the effects of positive social interactions on ambulatory blood pressure (ABP).

Design: Participants (341 adults) completed the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale and underwent ABP monitoring, assessed every 45 min during waking hours across 6 days. An electronic diary measuring mood and social interactions was completed at each ABP assessment.

Main outcome measures: The dependent variables from the ABP monitor included systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate.

Results: Different patterns of ambulatory diastolic blood pressure (ADBP) responding to social interactions perceived as intimate or supportive among high- versus low-hostile individuals were observed. Higher intimacy ratings were linked to reductions in ADBP among low-hostile but not high-hostile individuals. Conversely, high-hostile, but not low-hostile, individuals showed increases in ADBP to situations rated high in social support. Although findings for ambulatory systolic blood pressure were nonsignificant, the pattern of results was similar to ADBP.

Conclusion: Hostile individuals may find offers of support stressful and may fail to benefit from intimacy during daily life. The pathogenic effects of hostility may be mediated in part by responses to social interactions, both positive and negative.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Interaction between daily reports of instrumental support and Cook-Medley Hostility Scale (CMHS) scores in predicting ambulatory diastolic blood pressure (ADBP). Simple slopes reflect predicted values at 1 and 2 standard deviations above and below the centered mean for hostility and the sample average minimum and maximum values of instrumental support for each person. **p < .001.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Interaction between daily reports of intimacy and Cook-Medley Hostility Scale (CMHS) scores in predicting ambulatory diastolic blood pressure (ADBP). Simple slopes reflect predicted values at 1 and 2 standard deviations above and below the centered mean for hostility, and the sample average minimum and maximum values of intimacy for each person. *p < .05.
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