Subjective Stress and Coping Resources Interact to Predict Blood Pressure Reactivity in Black College Students

Abstract

This study examined the effects of subjective stress and coping resources on blood pressure reactivity. Sixty-nine Black college students (mean age = 23.58 years) completed the Life Experiences and Stress Scale to explore the subjective stressfulness associated with life events, the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced Scale to measure usual ways of coping, and a standardized serial addition laboratory challenge during which blood pressure was assessed. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the interactive effects of subjective stress and coping resources predicted diastolic blood pressure reactivity (both p < .025) but not systolic blood pressure reactivity (both p > .10). These significant interaction effects indicated that higher levels of problem-focused coping were related to more marked diastolic blood pressure changes under conditions of high subjective stress and that emotion-focused coping was associated with less exaggerated diastolic blood pressure changes under conditions of low subjective stress. These findings highlight the potential contribution of psychosocial factors to blood pressure reactivity in Blacks.