University of La Verne, La Verne, CA, USA.
Int J Behav Med. 2013 Mar;20(1):97-105. doi: 10.1007/s12529-011-9204-3.
Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) does not occur until mid to late life for most adults, the presence of risk factors, such as high blood pressure (BP) and cholesterol, has increased dramatically in young adults.
The present study examined the relationships between gender and coping strategies, lifestyle behaviors, and cardiovascular risks.
The sample consisted of 297 (71% female) university students. Participants completed a survey to assess demographics, lifestyle behaviors, and coping strategies, and a physiological assessment including lipid and blood pressure (BP) measurements. Data collection occurred from January 2007 to May 2008.
Analyses revealed that age, ethnicity, greater body mass index (BMI), greater use of social support, and less frequent exercise were associated with higher cholesterol, while gender, age, greater BMI, and less frequent exercise were associated with higher systolic BP. There were two significant interactions: one between gender and avoidant coping and the other between gender and exercise on systolic BP, such that for men greater use of avoidant coping or exercise was associated with lower systolic BP.
Understanding how young adults manage their demands and cope with stress sets the stage for understanding the developmental process of CVD. Both coping strategies and lifestyle behaviors must be considered in appraising gender-related cardiovascular risk at an early age before the disease process has begun.
尽管心血管疾病（CVD）在大多数成年人中直到中年或晚年才会发生，但高血压（BP）和胆固醇等危险因素的存在在年轻人中急剧增加。
本研究探讨了性别与应对策略、生活方式行为和心血管风险之间的关系。
该样本由 297 名（71%为女性）大学生组成。参与者完成了一项调查，以评估人口统计学、生活方式行为和应对策略，以及包括血脂和血压（BP）测量在内的生理评估。数据收集于 2007 年 1 月至 2008 年 5 月进行。
分析显示，年龄、种族、更大的体重指数（BMI）、更多地使用社会支持以及较少的锻炼与胆固醇升高有关，而性别、年龄、更大的 BMI 和较少的锻炼与收缩压升高有关。有两个显著的相互作用：一个是性别与回避应对之间的相互作用，另一个是性别与收缩压之间的锻炼相互作用，即对于男性来说，更多地使用回避应对或锻炼与较低的收缩压有关。
了解年轻人如何应对他们的需求和应对压力为理解 CVD 的发展过程奠定了基础。在疾病过程开始之前，必须考虑应对策略和生活方式行为，以评估早期的性别相关心血管风险。
