Abstract
PurposeThe association between extraversion personality and high blood pressure (BP) has not been well-studied. This study aims to explore the association between extraversion personality and the BP level in a large sample of adolescents.MethodsAs an ongoing study, 5,246 children aged 6–9 years were recruited using a stratified cluster sampling method in 2014. The extraversion personality trait, assessed by the Eysenck personality questionnaire (EPQ, answered by adolescents) in 2019, was used in the main analysis. A total of 3,407 participants were eligible and included in this analysis.ResultsThe EPQ extraversion score was negatively associated with a systolic BP, a diastolic BP, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in a univariate analysis. After adjusting for other covariates, high extraversion score was negatively associated with systolic BP (β = −0.026; 95% CI = −0.047, −0.004; p = 0.002). There was an interaction between regions and the extraversion score on systolic BP (Pinteraction = 0.037). The stratified analysis showed that, in rural areas, the extraversion score was negatively associated with systolic BP (β = −0.050; 95% CI = −0.081, −0.016; p = 0.004). However, we did find an association between the extraversion score and systolic BP in urban areas (β = 0.000; 95% CI = −0.028, 0.028; p = 0.996). Similar results were observed for the extraversion assessed by parents.ConclusionsWe observed that extraversion personality was negatively associated with high BP in adolescents, especially for those who were living in rural areas. Our results suggested that a comprehensive intervention should be implemented to promote psychological health in adolescents.
Highlights
Essential hypertension, as a well-established risk factor of cardiovascular disease, has become a global disease burden and public health concern [1]
The Eysenck personality questionnaire (EPQ) extraversion score was 52.0 ± 12.4 for adolescents living in urban areas and was 46.8 ± 12.8 for adolescents living in rural areas
Systolic and diastolic Blood pressure (BP) levels were higher in adolescents living in rural areas than those living in urban areas
Summary
As a well-established risk factor of cardiovascular disease, has become a global disease burden and public health concern [1]. It has its roots in childhood [2]. Own to the different measurement techniques, definitions, and population, the prevalence of hypertension in children and adolescents ranges from 0.3 to 12.6% [3–5] and is still increasing in developing countries. Our previous study found that left-behind children in rural areas have a higher prevalence of hypertension [7], which may partially contribute to a difference in psychological factors between leftbehind children and children living with their core family [8]. Previous studies have identified socioeconomic status (SES) [9], perinatal factors [10], anthropometric variables, nutrition [11], physical activity [12], obesity, and dyslipidemia as the risk factors for hypertension but not all the risk factors of hypertension have not been identified
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