Andreas R Schwerdtfeger1,2, Hubert Scharnagl3, Tatjana Stojakovic3, Eva-Maria Rathner4. 1. Department of Psychology, Health Psychology Unit, University of Graz, Graz, Austria. andreas.schwerdtfeger@uni-graz.at. 2. Department of Psychology, Karl-Franzens-University Graz, 8010, Graz, Austria. andreas.schwerdtfeger@uni-graz.at. 3. Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. 4. Department of Psychology, Health Psychology Unit, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cognitive avoidant coping (CAV) has been associated with elevated autonomic stress reactivity, thus presumably elevating risk for cardiovascular diseases. However, more direct evidence for this hypothesis is lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to relate carotid intima media thickness (IMT) to CAV in nonclinical participants. METHODS: A total of 124 participants (61 women) with a mean age of 37.52 years (SD = 7.93, MIN = 30, MAX = 60) participated in the study. IMT was assessed by ultrasonic imaging and CAV via questionnaire (Mainz Coping Inventory; MCI). RESULTS: Regression analysis revealed that although CAV was not significantly associated with IMT, there was a significant interaction of CAV and age. Whereas for younger adults, there was no significant relation for older individuals, CAV and IMT were significantly positively associated. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that CAV could constitute a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases with increasing age.
BACKGROUND: Cognitive avoidant coping (CAV) has been associated with elevated autonomic stress reactivity, thus presumably elevating risk for cardiovascular diseases. However, more direct evidence for this hypothesis is lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to relate carotid intima media thickness (IMT) to CAV in nonclinical participants. METHODS: A total of 124 participants (61 women) with a mean age of 37.52 years (SD = 7.93, MIN = 30, MAX = 60) participated in the study. IMT was assessed by ultrasonic imaging and CAV via questionnaire (Mainz Coping Inventory; MCI). RESULTS: Regression analysis revealed that although CAV was not significantly associated with IMT, there was a significant interaction of CAV and age. Whereas for younger adults, there was no significant relation for older individuals, CAV and IMT were significantly positively associated. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that CAV could constitute a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases with increasing age.
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