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Relationship of John Henryism to cardiovascular functioning at rest and during stress in youth

  • Empirical Research
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

John Henryism, a coping style characterized by a strong predisposition to confront daily psychosocial stressors in an active and effortful manner, has been associated with cardiovascular (CV) disease risk in adults. This study examined the relationship of John Henryism to CV functioning at rest and during laboratory stressors (i.e. forehead cold stimulation, postural change, and treadmill exercise) in 173 normotensive 10-to 17-year-old African-American and White children. High John Henry scores were associated with higher blood pressure, higher total peripheral resistance, and lower cardiac index at rest. These relationships were qualified by an interaction with socioeconomic status (SES) such that those from lower SES backgrounds who were high on John Henryism had particularly high levels of resting CV measures. No significant associations were observed with CV reactivity to the stressors. Findings are discussed in terms of possible impact of coping styles to environmental stress upon physiological functioning and health.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical College of Georgia, Georgia, USA

    Frank A. Treiber, Harry Davis & William B. Strong

  2. University of Kentucky, 229 Dickey Hall, 40506-0017, Lexington, KY

    Lynda Brown Wright

Authors
  1. Lynda Brown Wright
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  2. Frank A. Treiber
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  3. Harry Davis
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  4. William B. Strong
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Additional information

Preparation of this manuscript was supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health (HL35073 and HL41781) including a Minority Supplement Award to Dr. Wright on HL35073.

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Wright, L.B., Treiber, F.A., Davis, H. et al. Relationship of John Henryism to cardiovascular functioning at rest and during stress in youth. Ann Behav Med 18, 146–150 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02883390

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02883390

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