Optimism and CArdiovascular Reactivity to Psychological and Cold Pressor Stress
Abstract
THe relationship between optimism, as measured by the LIfe Orientation Test (LOT), and the response to mental arithmetic (MA) and cold pressor (CP) stressors was examined in 35 men. Reactivity measurements included heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, oxygen consumption (V), minute ventilation (VE), and plasma (CORT). In order to clarify the importance of optimism to reactivity, additional assessments were made for hostility, depression, behavior type, and trait anger and anxiety. Both stressors elicited significant cardiovascular, pulmonary and cortisol responses (P < 0.005) with the magnitude of response being greater for the CP task. Significant Pearson Correlations were found between LOT and CP reactivity for VE (r = .285, P < 0.05), and MA reactivity for HR (r = .281, P < 0.05) and VE (r = .374, P < 0.01) yet the results suggest that optimism was not strongly associated to reactivity elicited by either stressor. However, results did indicate that the relationship between optimism and cardiovascular reactivity may be as important as those exhibited by other psychological parameters. Keywords: Stress psychology, Life orientation test, Mental arithmetic, Stressors, Behavior type, LOT, MA, CP, HR, SBP, DBP, CORT.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 27, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA223818
Entities
People
- A. W. Langer
- C. E. Gnglund
- C. N. Leake
- M. Sinclair
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center