Religious Involvement and Perceived Social Support: Interactive Effects on Cardiovascular Reactivity to Laboratory Stressors

Abstract

Religious involvement has been linked to reduced risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This may reflect lower cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) among individuals high in religious involvement. The relationship between religious involvement and reactivity may overlap with the effects of other psychosocial factors. This study examined religious involvement, social support, and hostility in relation to CVR in the laboratory. Results showed an interactive effect of perceived social support and religious involvement on systolic blood pressure (SBP) reactivity. Participants reporting a high level of religious involvement showed lower SBP reactivity only when they also reported high levels of social support. These findings encourage further research on the unique and conjoint effects of religiousness and other psychosocial variables on CVR.