Hemodynamic responses to an anger interview and cognitive and
physical stressors were compared, and the stability of associated
hemodynamic reactions examined. Participants experienced control,
handgrip, counting, and mental arithmetic tests and an anger
interview on two occasions. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure,
heart rate, stroke volume, and cardiac output were measured.
Total peripheral resistance was also derived. The anger interview
produced larger, more sustained changes in blood pressure in
both sessions than the other stressors. These changes were largely
a consequence of increased peripheral resistance. Consistent
with previous findings, handgrip was associated with a
resistance-type reaction whereas arithmetic was associated with
a cardiac output-type reaction. There was low-to-modest stability
of hemodynamic reactions to the interview. Further research
is necessary to optimize its utility in studies of cardiovascular
function. Nevertheless, the findings underscore the ability
of ecologically relevant stressors to provoke unique configurations
of cardiovascular activity.