Autonomic characteristics of defensive hostility: Reactivity and recovery to active and passive stressors

Abstract

Defensive hostility has been attributed as an early risk factor of coronary heart disease.The autonomic characteristics of high defensive, high hostile (HD) and low defensive, high hostile (LD) men and women were assessed with a variety of cardiovascular (CV) measures. Reactivity and recovery to an active laboratory stressor (video game, VG) and a passive laboratory stressor (hand cold pressor, CP) of 15 HD men, 16 LD men, 16 HD women, and 16 LD women were recorded. It was predicted that the CV patterning associated with the HD participants would display more sympathetic and less vagal control as well as the least pronounced recovery from the stressors in comparison to LD participants. Results revealed differential CV responses to the lab tasks by group. HD women displayed consistently high levels of low frequency power heart rate variability (HRV) during baseline and across conditions. HD men exhibited significantly pronounced heart rate reactivity and reduced high frequency power HRV to the CP task in comparison to LD men. Interestingly, LD women displayed weaker blood pressure (BP) recovery to the VG in comparison to HD women, whereas the opposite pattern was observed in BP recovery to the CP. These results suggest that defensiveness and sex may moderate the CV reactivity and recovery to different types of stressors in hostile participants.iii DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated most lovingly to my family, without whose encouragement, love, and support this project would not be possible.iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Cardiovascular profile of defensive hostile women in a real stressful situation

“…Our results are consistent with those obtained in previous studies, that is, that defensive hostile people obtain the highest values in the task phase (Brosschot, Gerin, & Thayer, 2006;Helmers, & Krantz, 1996;Jorgensen, & Thibodeau, 2006;Larson, & Langer, 1997;Shapiro, Goldstein, & Jamner, 1995;Vella, & Friedman, 2007). Moreover, we have found that this group of individuals takes longer to recover after a stress situation, that is, they score the highest values encountered during the recovery phase.…”

“…In this way, nowadays, research has focused on defensive hostility (high hostility and high defensiveness) as one of the psychosocial factors with more weight and empirical support in its relationship with cardiovascular disease (Helmers, & Krantz, 1996;Jorgensen, & Thibodeau, 2006;Larson, & Langer, 1997;Vella, & Friedman, 2007). The trait of defensive hostility reflects an approach-avoid conflict between the desire for social approval and distrust of those who can provide such support (Jamner, Shapiro, Goldstein, & Hug, 1991).…”

Psychophysiological Cardiovascular Functioning in Hostile Defensive Women

“…From the study on the classic Type A behavior pattern through the anger-hostility complex and hostility were conducted, in recent years, research has focused on the defensive hostility (high hostility and high defensiveness) as a risk factor in CVD (Guerrero & Palmero, 2010;Helmers & Krantz, 1996;Jamner, et al, 1991;Larson & Langer, 1997;Shapiro, et al, 1995;Palmero, et al, 2007;Vella & Friedman, 2007). The trait of defensive hostility reflects an approach-avoid conflict between the desire for social approval and distrust of those who www.intechopen.com Psychophysiological Cardiovascular Functioning in Hostile Defensive Women 467 can provide such support, and currently can be considered as one of the psychosocial factors with more weight and empirical support in its relationship with CVD.…”

Resiliência e insucesso empresarial: um estudo exploratório sobre o comportamento resiliente e os estilos de enfrentamento do empreendedor em situações de insucesso empresarial, especificamente em casos de descontinuidade do negócio

“…Geralmente é usada com a finalidade de coletar informações sobre como o indivíduo está reagindo ao tratamento analítico. Porém, com a evolução dos estudos, o conceito de níveis de defesa vem sendo empregado em outros focos de pesquisa que não de caráter psicológico ou psicanalítico (VELLA e FRIEDMAN, 2007;CICHOCKI, 2008;LÉVESQUE, MOSKOWITZ et al 2010;PORCERELLI et al, 2009;NELSON et al, 2009;RAMCHANDANI, 2006;PAREKH MA et al, 2010;SUKUL YR et al, 2009;PETRAGLIA J et al, 2009;ZANARINI MC et al, 2009;HYPHANTIS TN et al, 2008).…”