High Stressor Exposure and Low Stressor Diversity Are Linked to Higher Blood Pressure Across Age

Stress exposure is linked to elevated blood pressure, which increases risk for cardiovascular disease (Spruill, 2010; WHO, 2013). Stress exposure may be especially harmful when concentrated in one particular domain (i.e., low stressor diversity) (Koffer, et al., 2016). Using a diversity index, we test whether high stressor exposure and low stressor diversity is associated with high resting blood pressure. Participants (N=391, aged 40-64 years) completed four days of hourly self-report of stressful experiences (e.g., work task demand, non-work task demand, arguments, interpersonal tension), with clinic blood pressure separately assessed. Linear regression results indicate older adults experienced lower stressor diversity (B = -0.003, p =.003). Further, higher stressor exposure with lower stressor diversity related to higher diastolic blood pressure (B= -7.21, p=.046). Experiencing high stress concentrated in one domain may increase risk of high blood pressure. We discuss how low stressor diversity may help explain age-related risk of cardiovascular disease.