The Relationship between Neuroticism and Blood Pressure Reexamined

Abstract

Given the contradictory results reported in the literature on the relationship between neuroticism and blood pressure, it was decided to reexamine this topic. This was done with a large sample very homogeneous for age, sex, food intake and life style and basically unselected in terms of medical history. In the frame of a blood donation program blood pressure was measured in 810 conscripts. In addition, subjects completed either form A or form B of the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI). Data from a total of 624 subjects were suitable for evaluation. No significant correlations were obtained between systolic or diastolic blood pressure and scores of neuroticism or extraversion (r = -0.10 to 0.06) nor did groups with different blood pressure values differ substantially in terms of these variables. This supports work showing that there is no essential connection between blood pressure and emotional lability as measured by the EPI.