Type D personality and cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

Objectives: Type D personality has been associated with adverse cardiovascular health, with atypical cardiovascular reactions to psychological stress considered a possible mechanism of effect. However, studies examining Type D personality and cardiovascular reactions to acute stress have yielded mixed findings.Here, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analyses to examine if, and under what conditions, Type D personality is associated with cardiovascular reactivity to stress; a particular focus was placed on sex and the social salience of the stressor as potential moderators of effects. Method: Electronic databases (Medline, PsycArticles, PsycInfo, CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science) were searched for relevant publications. A total of 401 articles were retrieved and screened for eligibility. Inclusion criteria included studies with nonclinical samples employing a resting baseline period followed by a psychological stress task period and measurement of cardiovascular reactivity. Following screening and removal of irrelevant articles, 17 peer-reviewed studies were included in the review. Result: Type D personality was associated with lower blood pressure reactivity to acute psychological stress. Subgroup analyses revealed an association between Type D personality and lower cardiovascular reactivity among females, but not males. Additionally, Type D personality was primarily associated with lower cardiovascular reactivity in response to nonsocial stressors. Conclusions: Type D personality is associated with lower blood pressure reactivity to acute psychological stress, particularly among females and in response to nonsocial stressors. This lower response may be indicative of blunted cardiovascular reactivity and therefore signals an increased risk of adverse health outcomes. Public Significance StatementThe current review indicates that Type D personality is associated with lower cardiovascular reactivity to acute stress, particularly among females and in response to nonsocial stressors. These lower cardiovascular responses may constitute a physiological mechanism leading to adverse cardiovascular health for Type D individuals.

The Influence of Personality Type D and Coping Strategies on Cognitive Functioning in Students

“…Recently, the concept of personality type D has been proposed, which consists of a combination of negative affectivity and its suppression in social interactions [8]. Individuals with this personality type were found to be more likely to experience depressive symptoms [9], and on the other hand, the negative influence of personality type D on reactivity under stressors was demonstrated [10][11][12][13]. Individuals with type D exhibit atypical physiological reactions to acute psychological stress, especially to social-evaluative stressors [10].…”

Pathogenetic Mechanisms Underlying Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Personality Type D Patients after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: The Roles of Cognitive Appraisal and Coping Strategies

“…Personality type D is associated with both high [20] and low [21] cardiovascular responses to acute psychological stress. It is believed that it is the attitude of the subject with personality type D to stress exposure that explains the reaction of the cardiovascular system to stress; the reaction is increased with stressors of high social significance and reduced with stressors of low social significance [22].…”