Emotional stability, conscientiousness, and self-reported hypertension in adulthood

Abstract

Objective: To investigate social and psychological factors in childhood and adulthood associated with self-reported hypertension in adulthood. Method: Using data from the National Child Development Study, a nationally representative sample of 17,415 babies born in Great Britain in 1958 and followed up at 11, 33, and 50 years of age. Self-reported diagnosed hypertension by 50 years was the outcome measure. Results: In total, 5,753 participants with complete data on parental social class at birth, childhood cognitive ability tests scores at 11 years, educational qualifications at 33 years, personality traits, occupational levels, and self-reported hypertension (all measured at age 50 years) were included in the study. Using logistic regression analyses, results showed that sex (OR=0.60: 0.49-0.73, p<.001), educational qualifications (OR=0.59: 0.37-0.92, p<.05), and traits emotional stability (OR=0.84: 0.77-0.91, p<.001) and conscientiousness (OR=0.89: 0.82-0.98, p<.05) were all significantly associated with the occurrence of self-reported hypertension in adulthood. Conclusion: Both psychological factors and socio-demographic factors were significantly associated with self-reported hypertension in adulthood.