Association of Optimism with Emotional and Cardiovascular Reactivity in Coronary Patients, and Healthy Controls
Abstract
Optimism is associated with increased physical and mental health in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This study examined whether optimism is associated with emotional and hemodynamic correlates in response to acute mental challenges. Participants included 44 CAD patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (age 60.77 + or - 9.9, 4 women), 31 CAD patients (age 1.71 + or - 8.0, 8 women), and 50 controls (age 54.74 + or - 10.9, 22 women). Mental challenge tasks involved anger recall and mental arithmetic with harassment. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), heart rate (HR), and emotional responses were assessed during the rest and challenge tasks. Optimism was assessed with the Life Orientation Test. Results revealed that optimism wasrelated to lower SBP responses to acute challenge in healthy individuals and higher SBP responses in ICD patients. No such relationships were found in CAD patients without ICDs. Emotional reactivity did not mediate the relationship between optimism and hemodynamic reactivity. This study revealed that optimism is associated with reduced emotional and hemodynamic responsiveness among healthy controls whereas patients with coronary disease and arrhythmic vulnerability display increased responsiveness rather than protective effects of optimism. Therefore optimism interventions may provide little benefit to hemodynamic and emotional responsiveness to everyday challenges in the most diseased group.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 12, 2007
- Accession Number
- AD1013973
Entities
People
- Angelique C. Demoncada
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences