Abstract
Objective: The impact of relationships within the family-of-origin on the development of physiological stress responses has significant consequences for long-term vulnerability to stress-related illness. Methods: The current study evaluated systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) responses to a challenge task in 150 young adults from families characterized by parental loss, divorce, or intact marriages. Results: Overall, higher-quality family relationships were associated with stronger recovery of SBP. For DBP and HR, interactions were found in which higher-quality family relationships were associated with stronger recovery in the loss group relative to the divorce and intact groups. Good support was found for a mediational model outlining self-regulatory abilities as a pathway linking family relationships to SBP reactivity and recovery. Conclusions: Findings provide further evidence that family-of-origin relationship experiences can affect cardiovascular responses to later-life stress.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 514-521 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Psychosomatic Medicine |
Volume | 67 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2005 |
Keywords
- Blood pressure
- Divorce
- Family
- Heart rate
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Applied Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health