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Workplace Social Support and Ambulatory Cardiovascular Activity in New York City Traffic Agents

From St. John’s University (W.A.K., E.B.), Jamaica, New York; and State University of New York (J.S.), Stony Brook, New York.

Address reprint requests to: Elizabeth Brondolo, PhD, Department of Psychology, St. Johns University, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Jamaica, New York 11439. Email: brondole{at}stjohns.edu

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the associations of social support from coworkers and supervisors to workday ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate. Specifically, analyses examined the association of work-related social support to the following measures: 1) baseline blood pressure and heart rate at the start of the workday, 2) blood pressure and heart rate during high stress periods, 3) blood pressure and heart rate levels throughout the workday.

METHODS: Participants included male (N = 36) and female (N = 34) New York City Traffic Enforcement Agents. Mixed-model regression analyses were used to assess the effects of self-reported measures of workplace social support on workday ambulatory blood pressure.

RESULTS: Workplace support was associated with workday ambulatory blood pressure levels, with the effects depending on the source of support and the gender of the participant. For women, immediate supervisor support was negatively associated with workday systolic blood pressure level, and a similar negative trend was found for workday diastolic blood pressure level. For men, coworker support was negatively associated with workday systolic blood pressure level. We found an interaction of social support with stress level (ie, baseline vs. high stress) such that immediate supervisor support was negatively associated with systolic blood pressure during high-stress conditions, but no effects were found under resting conditions.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that workplace social support is associated with workday ambulatory blood pressure, especially during stressful work periods.

Key Words: social support, • work stress, • blood pressure, • cardiovascular disease.

Abbreviations: ABP = ambulatory blood pressure;; BMI = body mass index;; BP = blood pressure;; CVD = cardiovascular disease;; CVR = cardiovascular reactivity;; DBP = diastolic blood pressure;; HR = heart rate;; SBP = systolic blood pressure;; SES = socioeconomic status.

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