Noise and somatic symptoms: A role for personality traits?

ObjectivesWe investigated the role of a stress-sensitive personality on relations between noise, noise annoyance and somatic symptom reporting. First, we investigated the cross-sectional association of road traffic noise exposure and somatic symptoms, and its modification by hostility and vulnerability to stress. Second, we investigated the cross-sectional association of noise annoyance from eight sources (e.g. road traffic, aircraft, neighbours) and somatic symptoms, and it's confounding by hostility and vulnerability to stress.MethodsData were obtained from LifeLines, a general population cohort from the Netherlands. Road traffic noise was estimated using the Common Noise Assessment Methods in Europe (CNOSSOS-EU) noise model. Noise annoyance, hostility, vulnerability to stress, and somatic symptoms were assessed with validated questionnaires.ResultsPoisson regression models adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic variables indicated no association of noise exposure and somatic symptoms (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.001; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.000–1.001; n = 56,937). Interactions of noise exposure and hostility and vulnerability to stress were not statistically significant. Small positive associations were found for noise annoyance from each of the eight sources and somatic symptoms, when adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic variables (e.g. for road traffic noise annoyance IRR 1.014, 95% CI 1.011–1.018; n = 6177). Additional adjustment for hostility and vulnerability to stress resulted in small decreases of the IRRs for noise annoyance from each of the eight sources, but the associations remained statistically significant.ConclusionsPersonality facets hostility and vulnerability to stress did not modify the relation between road traffic noise exposure and somatic symptom reporting, or confound relations between noise annoyance and symptoms.     

HOSTILITY AS A MODERATOR OF PHYSICAL REACTIVITY AND RECOVERY TO STRESS

This experiment was designed to assess differences in physiological reactivity and recovery to stress among low- and high-hostile men. Specifically, 25 low- and 25 high-hostile undergraduates were identified using the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale (Cook & Medley, 1954). To ensure homogeneity, all subjects were right-handed and had a general right hemibody preference, as indicated by a score of +7 or higher on the Coren, Porac, and Duncan Laterality Test (Corer, Porac, & Duncan, 1979). All subjects underwent a traditional cold-pressor stressor test. Physiological measures heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were recorded before the stressor (Prestress), after the stressor (Poststress), and then again 9 min later (Recovery). Increased physiological arousal between pre- and poststress measurements was used as an indicator of reactivity. Subsequent decreases in physiological arousal were used as recover measures. Given the current models of negative emotion and hostility, it was expected that high-hostiles, relative to low-hostiles, would evidence increased physio logical arousal and decreased recovery to stress. Interestingly, high-hostiles experienced significantly greater reactivity to stress in heart rate only, and no group differences were found with regard to recovery. Results are discussed in terms of previous research and current models of emotion.     

Hostility,Agreeableness-Antagonism,and Coronary Heart Disease

Although the Type A Behavior Pattern (TABP) is widely considered to be an important risk factor for CHD, several recent studies have failed to find associations between TABP and CHD. As a result, investigators using the Structured Interview have begun to examine more specific aspects of TAPB, and Potential for Hostility has emerged as the probable 'toxic component' of the pattern. Other measures of cold-blooded or antagonistic hostility have also been associated with CHD, and this form of hostility can be understood as part of the broader personality domain of Agreeableness vs. Antagonism. We suggest that agreeableness-antagonism itself as well as related traits such as mistrust, manipulativeness, arrogance, and aggression should also be examined as promising predictors of CHD     

Relationships among demands at work,aggression, and verbal abuse among registered nurses in South Korea

BackgroundIn order to improve organizational culture and job outcomes, it is important to characterize and better understand the relationship between aggression and verbal abuse among nurses.PurposeTo examine the relationships among demands at work, aggression, and verbal abuse among nurses.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using survey data from three tertiary hospitals located in South Korea. Sixteen nursing units were selected and 378 nurses’ data were used as the final sample. The relationships were examined by multiple linear or logistic regression analyses.FindingsMore than 70% of the nurses had experienced at least 1 type of verbal abuse. Higher physical aggression and hostility were significantly related to greater verbal abuse experience.ConclusionTo prevent the vicious cycle of victims becoming perpetrators, it is necessary to develop and implement concrete strategies to manage verbal abuse and aggression among nurse colleagues.     

Effects of posttraumatic stress disorder status and covert hostility on cardiovascular responses to relived anger in women with and without PTSD

Previous literature has found greater heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) responses during relived anger, and a positive association between covert hostility and relived anger, in male veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study investigated hostility and cardiovascular responses to a relived anger task in 120 women (70 with PTSD and 50 without PTSD). Women with PTSD reported greater hostile beliefs and covert hostility than non-PTSD controls, reported greater anger and anxiety during the anger recall task, and had higher resting HR. In general, the relationship between PTSD and cardiovascular response was moderated by covert hostility, which was associated with greater baseline diastolic BP and greater HR during relived anger and anger recovery among women with PTSD, but not among non-PTSD controls. Results suggest that the relationship between PTSD and cardiovascular response is moderated by hostility.     

影响高一学生敌对倾向的个性特征研究

目的了解有明显敌对倾向的高一学生的个性特征,为中学生建立良好人际关系提供科学依据。方法对851名高一学生用症状自评量表（SCL-90）中敌对倾向分量表和艾森克人格问卷成人版（EPQ）测量,并以敌对倾向分量表的因子分为依据分为3组,即≥3分组、〈3分≥2分组和〈2分组,比较这3组之间EPQ各因子的均分。结果851名高一学生中有27名存在明显的敌对倾向,占3.17%;方差分析提示EPQ量表的L、N、P因子标准分在3个组间的差异有显著性（P〈0.001）。LSD-t检验N因子在3组之间差异均有显著性（P〈0.01～0.001）;〈2分组与其它2组在L、P因子差异均有显著性（P〈0.001）;其它各组之间差异无显著性（P〉0.05）。结论21.15%高一学生有不同程度的敌对倾向,3.17%高一学生有明显的敌对倾向;高N因子分是引起高一学生敌对倾向明显的主要个性特征,并与P因子分偏高和L因子分偏低有关。完善中学生个性可能是降低敌对倾向,促进人际关系的有效方法。     

罪犯自制力对敌意抑制效应的中介与调节变量

目的:考察罪犯自制力对其自尊和敌意认知的抑制作用,揭示这一过程的中介变量和调节变量。方法:采用自我控制能力量表、自尊量表和敌意问卷,对164名罪犯进行测量。结果:罪犯自制力可有效抑制敌意认知(总效应=-0.39,t=-5.46,P<0.01),自尊起部分中介作用(间接效应值=-0.05,t=-1.99,P<0.05);自尊与敌意认知存在显著负相关(r=-0.277,P<0.001);交互作用项"年龄×自制力"的回归系数在以敌意和自尊为因变量的回归方程中均达显著水平(B=0.216,t=2.513,P<0.01;B=-0.197,t=2.293,P<0.01),年龄对自制力与敌意、自制力与自尊的关系具有调节作用。结论:罪犯自制力对敌意有抑制效应,自尊起部分中介作用,年龄起调节作用,年龄越大,自制力对自尊和敌意的影响越小。     

Relationship between hostility and subjective sleep quality

While hostility and sleep disturbance are the potential risk factors for health problems and disease, few studies have examined the relationship between the two factors. The present study was performed to investigate the relationship between hostility and sleep problems assessed both subjectively and objectively in a nonclinical sample. Sixty-one healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Hostility was measured according to the Cook–Medley hostility scale. Subjective sleep quality was evaluated according to the global score of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Objective sleep was evaluated using actigraphy. A multiple regression analysis revealed that a higher level of hostility was significantly associated with the global score of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and that a higher level of depression was not associated with the global score of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Objective sleep measures were not found to be associated with hostility. Confirming the robust relationship between poor sleep and hostility would have several important treatment implications for preventing health problems.     

Effects of Hostility on Alcohol Stress-Response-Dampening

The purpose of this study was to compare the stress-response-dampening (SRD) effect of alcohol in hostile and nonhostile men based on a combined score of four subscales of the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale . Subjects were 72 male social drinkers. Subjects' cardiac interbeat-interval, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure reactivity to a situational stressor were measured following the consumption of either alcohol, no alcohol, or an active placebo beverage. Results demonstrated that hostile men evinced lower heart rate and systolic blood pressure (SBP) reactivity to the stressor when given alcohol, compared with intoxicated nonhostile subjects, and lower reactivity relative to all other groups, with the exception of SBP in the nonhostile controls. These results allow for speculation that hostile men may be more likely than controls to experience possible SRD effects of alcohol and thus, perhaps, be predisposed to increased alcohol consumption when under stress.     

Defensive hostility and anger expression: Relationship to additional heart rate reactivity during active coping

The main purpose of the present study was twofold: (a) to assess the relationship between defensive hostility (high hostility/high defensiveness) and additional heart rate reactivity during active coping and (b) to determine if the construct of anger-out might lend additional, sensitivity to the predictive power of the defensive hostility model. Forty individuals were randomly assigned to complete a mental arithmetic task with or without the threat of shock. Participants also completed the Cook-Medley Hostility Inventory (Ho), the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MC), and the Spielberger Anger Expression Scale. Defensive hostile subjects (high Ho/high MC) were significantly more reactive than any other subgroup. In addition, the combination of low Ho/high anger-out scores yielded a subgroup significantly less reactive than any other subgroup. These findings clarify the complex relationship of hostility and cardiovascular reactivity.