UC San Diego

One potential explanation for the predictive utility of ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring is that it captures BP in the context of social experiences that are relevant to cardiovascular health. The interpersonal circumplex (IPC) is a central component of interpersonal theory that categorizes social experiences along two perpendicular axes: affiliation (friendliness vs. hostility) and control (dominance vs. submissiveness). The present study investigated associations of social interactions and interaction quality with acute ambulatory BP reactivity, mean daytime and nighttime BP, and nocturnal BP dipping in healthy, middle-aged Mexican- American women. Participants (N=260) completed a 36-hour ambulatory BP monitoring assessment; momentary psychosocial experiences were captured via electronic diary. Findings revealed that momentary SBP and DBP were an average of 1.55 and 1.52 mmHg higher (respectively, ps < .001) in the context of a current/recent social interaction relative to observations that did not involve a social interaction. For every additional ̃13 social interactions (of any kind), SBP and DBP dipping increased by 0.8% and 1.1%, respectively (ps < .05). For interaction quality, momentary SBP and DBP were an average of 1.31 and 1.00 mmHg higher (respectively, ps < .001) during supportive (i.e., high affiliation) compared to other types of interactions; however, this association was only statistically significant when family member and/or friend was the interaction partner. A cumulative increase of ̃9 supportive interactions was associated with a 2.03 mmHg decrease in mean daytime SBP, and 2.20 and 1.28 mmHg decreases in mean nighttime SBP and DBP, respectively (ps < .05). A decrease of ̃3 disagreements (i.e., low affiliation) was associated with 1.48 and 1.14 mmHg reductions in mean nighttime SBP and DBP, respectively (ps < .05). Trends were also observed for support and disagreements and greater/lesser nocturnal (DBP) dipping, respectively (ps <.10). No statistically significant associations were observed for ambulatory BP and social experiences characterized by high/low control. This study highlights aspects of the social environment as factors that may shape resilience (via greater interaction frequency, higher levels of support) and risk (via lower interaction frequency, higher levels of conflict), and thus represent potentially modifiable targets for CVD prevention and management efforts in Latinos