Keywords
ambulatory blood pressure, social-evaluative threat, psychological stress
Abstract
Objective—Physiological effects of social evaluation are central in models of psychosocial influences on physical health. Experimental manipulations of evaluative threat evoke substantial cardiovascular and neuroendocrine responses in laboratory studies, but only preliminary evidence is available regarding naturally-occurring evaluative threats in daily life. In such non-experimental ambulatory studies, it is essential to distinguish effects of evaluative threat from related constructs known to alter stress, such as ability perceptions and concerns about appearance. Methods—94 married, working couples (mean age 29.2 years) completed a one-day (8am to 10pm) ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) protocol with random interval-contingent measurements using a Suntech monitor and Palm Pilot-based measures of control variables and momentary experiences of social-evaluative threat, concerns about appearance, and perceived ability. Results—In hierarchical analyses for couples and multiple measurement occasions (Proc Mixed; SAS) and controlling individual differences (BMI, age, income) and potential confounds (e.g., posture, activity), higher reports of social-evaluative threat were associated with higher concurrent SBP (estimate = .87, SE = .34) and DBP (estimate = 1.06; SE = .26), both p
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Birmingham, Wendy C.; Smith, Timothy W.; and Uchino, Bert N., "Evaluative Threat and Ambulatory Blood Pressure: Cardiovascular Effects of Social Stress in Daily Experience" (2012). Faculty Publications. 6024.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/6024
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
2012
Permanent URL
http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/8753
Publisher
Author Manuscript
Language
English
College
Family, Home, and Social Sciences
Department
Psychology