This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Merritt, M. M. Articles by Thayer, J. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Merritt, M. M. Articles by Thayer, J. F.

Low Educational Attainment, John Henryism, and Cardiovascular Reactivity to and Recovery From Personally Relevant Stress

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (M.M.M., G.G.B., R.B.W.), Behavioral Medicine Research Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; and Gerontological Research Center (J.J.S., J.F.T.), National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Marcellus M. Merritt, PhD, Research Fellow, NIA/GRC/LPC, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224. E-mail: merrittma{at}grc.nia.nih.gov

OBJECTIVE: The John Henryism hypothesis proposes that a high level of John Henryism (JH: high-effort coping with psychosocial demands) is predictive of hypertension at low but not high socioeconomic status (SES). The objectives of the present study were to determine whether high JH and low SES (education, income, job status, and job strain) were associated with increased cardiovascular responses to laboratory social stressors.

METHODS: Subjects were 58 normotensive, healthy black men age 23 to 47 years. The procedure included the completion of psychosocial questionnaires and participation in a psychophysiological reactivity protocol. The reactivity protocol involved the following experimental tasks and associated recovery periods: an active speech task and an anger recall task. Measures of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), and rate pressure product (RPP) were obtained continuously using a Finapres beat-to-beat blood pressure monitor throughout the reactivity protocol.

RESULTS: At high JH, low (compared with high) education level was linked with higher DBP during anger recall and final recovery, higher SBP during final recovery, and higher HR and RPP during speech preparation and final recovery (p < .05). Among subjects with low education, high (vs. low) JH was associated with higher SBP, HR, and RPP during final recovery (p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS: John Henryism may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease among people with low education by increased cardiovascular reactivity and prolonged recovery to stress.

Key Words: coping, • socioeconomic status, • cardiovascular reactivity, • hypertension, • blacks.

Abbreviations: ANOVA = analysis of variance;; BP = blood pressure;; CVR = cardiovascular response;; DBP = diastolic blood pressure;; HR = heart rate;; HRV = heart rate variability;; JH = John Henryism;; JHAC = John Henryism Scale of Active Coping;; JS = job strain;; RPP = rate pressure product;; SBP = systolic blood pressure;; SES = socioeconomic status.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. B. Williams, D. A. Marchuk, I. C. Siegler, J. C. Barefoot, M. J. Helms, B. H. Brummett, R. S. Surwit, J. D. Lane, C. M. Kuhn, K. M. Gadde, et al. Childhood Socioeconomic Status and Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphism Enhance Cardiovascular Reactivity to Mental Stress Psychosom Med, January 1, 2008; 70(1): 32 - 39. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Wagner and G. Abbott Depression and Depression Care in Diabetes: Relationship to perceived discrimination in African Americans Diabetes Care, February 1, 2007; 30(2): 364 - 366. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Steptoe and M. Marmot Psychosocial, Hemostatic, and Inflammatory Correlates of Delayed Poststress Blood Pressure Recovery Psychosom Med, July 1, 2006; 68(4): 531 - 537. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]