Young adults at risk for hypertension: effects of family history and anger management in determining responses to interpersonal conflict.

An experiment was conducted with young adults to study the effects of two hypothesized risk factors for essential hypertension, namely, having (1) a positive family history of essential hypertension, and (2) anger inhibition. Subjects were tested in a dyadic role play task designed to simulate mundane and conflictual social interactions. Heart rate and blood pressure were recorded, reports of emotion were obtained, and role play behavior was coded for assertiveness. Although family history of essential hypertension and anger inhibition were not associated with one another, both variables were related to cardiovascular activity. These results provide new information about the relationship between these two hypothesized risk factors and extend previously observed differences between at-risk and low-risk subjects for hypertension to a more naturalistic, interpersonal stressor.