Blood pressure-associated emotional dampening and risky behavior: Elevated resting blood pressure predicts risky simulated driving in women. 2020

James A McCubbin, and Fred S Switzer, and Meredith N LaDue, and Jennifer H Ogle, and Vijay Bendigeri
Department of Psychology, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA. Electronic address: jmccubb@clemson.edu.

Elevated resting blood pressure (BP) is associated with dampened responses to emotionally meaningful stimuli. This BP-associated emotional dampening may also influence threat appraisal and, hence, motivation to avoid risk. The present study was designed to determine if resting BP is associated with risky driving behavior assessed in a high fidelity driving simulator. Fifty-one healthy women (n = 20) and men (n = 31) rested for BP determinations both before and after a simulated driving scenario in a DriveSafety automotive simulator with six visual channels, single-axis motion, and functioning controls and instrumentation. Resting systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) BPs were obtained systematically with a calibrated GE Dinamap Pro V100. Risky driving was assessed by speed relative to the posted speed limit, and a speed-adjusted time to collision index of tailgating. Regression analyses indicated that sex interacted with resting BP, with significant associations between BP and risk in women, but not men. For example, risky driving in women was associated with higher resting DBP (p = .006), with similar but less reliable effects for resting SBP (p = .058). These results provide some partial, preliminary support for the notion that BP-associated emotional dampening may reduce threat appraisal and thereby decrease motivation for risk avoidance, but these effects are confined to women in this simulated driving scenario. Interacting central nervous system (CNS) mechanisms controlling BP and emotional responsivity may mediate the relationship between BP and risk-taking behavior. Relative expression of this relationship in women and men may depend on multiple psychosocial and physiological mechanisms. The association of higher BP with increased risk-taking behaviors may have relevance to the early pathogenesis of essential hypertension.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006973 Hypertension Persistently high systemic arterial BLOOD PRESSURE. Based on multiple readings (BLOOD PRESSURE DETERMINATION), hypertension is currently defined as when SYSTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently greater than 140 mm Hg or when DIASTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently 90 mm Hg or more. Blood Pressure, High,Blood Pressures, High,High Blood Pressure,High Blood Pressures
D008297 Male Males
D012146 Rest Freedom from activity. Rests
D001794 Blood Pressure PRESSURE of the BLOOD on the ARTERIES and other BLOOD VESSELS. Systolic Pressure,Diastolic Pressure,Pulse Pressure,Pressure, Blood,Pressure, Diastolic,Pressure, Pulse,Pressure, Systolic,Pressures, Systolic
D004644 Emotions Those affective states which can be experienced and have arousing and motivational properties. Feelings,Regret,Emotion,Feeling,Regrets
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012309 Risk-Taking Undertaking a task involving a challenge for achievement or a desirable goal in which there is a lack of certainty or a fear of failure. It may also include the exhibiting of certain behaviors whose outcomes may present a risk to the individual or to those associated with him or her. Risk Behavior,Behavior, Risk,Behaviors, Risk,Risk Behaviors,Risk Taking

Related Publications

James A McCubbin, and Fred S Switzer, and Meredith N LaDue, and Jennifer H Ogle, and Vijay Bendigeri
January 2004, Psychosomatic medicine,
James A McCubbin, and Fred S Switzer, and Meredith N LaDue, and Jennifer H Ogle, and Vijay Bendigeri
December 2023, Perceptual and motor skills,
James A McCubbin, and Fred S Switzer, and Meredith N LaDue, and Jennifer H Ogle, and Vijay Bendigeri
February 2014, Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine,
James A McCubbin, and Fred S Switzer, and Meredith N LaDue, and Jennifer H Ogle, and Vijay Bendigeri
September 2012, Traffic injury prevention,
James A McCubbin, and Fred S Switzer, and Meredith N LaDue, and Jennifer H Ogle, and Vijay Bendigeri
January 1987, Psychosomatic medicine,
James A McCubbin, and Fred S Switzer, and Meredith N LaDue, and Jennifer H Ogle, and Vijay Bendigeri
January 2016, Traffic injury prevention,
James A McCubbin, and Fred S Switzer, and Meredith N LaDue, and Jennifer H Ogle, and Vijay Bendigeri
December 2021, Hospital pediatrics,
James A McCubbin, and Fred S Switzer, and Meredith N LaDue, and Jennifer H Ogle, and Vijay Bendigeri
January 2011, Psychosomatic medicine,
James A McCubbin, and Fred S Switzer, and Meredith N LaDue, and Jennifer H Ogle, and Vijay Bendigeri
February 2014, Biological psychology,
James A McCubbin, and Fred S Switzer, and Meredith N LaDue, and Jennifer H Ogle, and Vijay Bendigeri
December 2017, Accident; analysis and prevention,
Copied contents to your clipboard!