Cardiovascular reactivity, affective responses and performance related to the risk dimensions of coronary-prone behaviour

This study was designed to test the association between (a) components of the coronary-prone behaviour (Hostility, Competitiveness, Impatience, Job involvement, and Rumination),and (b) cardiovascular reactivity [Systolic blood pressure (SBP), Diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR)], mood state, and performance. Sixty-one subjects volunteered in a laboratory session that included the performance of a mental arithmetic task and a reaction time task. The results showed that: (1) only the Hostility, Competitiveness, and Rumination dimensions were significantly associated with physiological reactivity (mainly SBP). This differential reactivity was particularly significant while subjects performed the mental arithmetic task. Individual differences in Competitiveness were also related to the reactivity during the reaction time task. (2) No significant relations appeared between these dimensions and mood responses. (3) Lastly, performance was only related to the Competitiveness dimension. The more competitive subjects were, the shorter their reaction time was. These results are interpreted as supporting the risk status of these coronary-prone dimensions. At the same time, suggestions concerning the more complex role the Competitiveness factor could be playing are made. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.