Mechanisms relating Type D personality to poor health are largely unknown, with autonomic nervous system function being a candidate. This study examined the physiologic response to cold stress. Undergraduates (N = 101, 84% female) underwent a cold pressor test. An electrocardiogram, impedance cardiogram, and blood pressure were recorded. Type D personality was assessed by self-report questionnaire. Type D was associated with increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure reactivity. Exploratory analyses showed Type D men to respond with increased respiratory sinus arrhythmia (i.e., higher parasympathetic activity), and decreased pre-ejection period (i.e., larger sympathetic activity), while Type D women showed a reciprocal response pattern. In conclusion, Type D personality was associated with an exaggerated hemodynamic response to cold stress, which may contribute to an increased risk of hypertension in Type D individuals.
Published: 2013
Association of Type D personality with the autonomic and hemodynamic response to the cold pressor test
Nina Kupper, Aline Pelle, Johan Denollet
Autonomic nervous system, Blood pressure, Cardiovascular reactivity, Cold pressor task, Heart rate, Impedance cardiography, Type D personality
- Item Type: journalArticle
- Publication Title: Psychophysiology
- Volume: 50
- Pages: 1194-1201
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- Journal Abbreviation:
- DOI: /10.1111/psyp.12133
- ISSN: 1469-8986
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- Library Catalog: Wiley Online Library
