Neuroticism but not cardiovascular stress reactivity is associated with less longitudinal blood pressure increase

The neuroticism scale of the German version of the Eysenck Personality Inventory was found to be negatively associated (r = - 0.38) with mean blood pressure increase over a 4-year period in a sample of 75 German adult normotensives. Alcohol consumption was also an independent protective factor, and combining alcohol, neuroticism and baseline blood pressure in a multiple regression equation resulted in a multiple r of 0.60. Neither heart rare nor mean blood pressure responses during mental arithmetic were associated with long-term blood pressure increase. Thus, the present data do not support the reactivity hypothesis which links cardiovascular overreactivity to psychological stressors with risk for hypertensive development. Results are discussed in terms of stress coping strategies.