Anger, Stress and Hypertension: A Comparative Study

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the association between the direction of the expression of anger and stress in persons with hypertension based on the comparison with persons without this diagnosis. One hundred and twelve (112) subjects were evaluated, fifty six (56) with hypertension and fifty six (56) without, matched for educational level, gender and age. The instruments were Lipp’s Inventory of Stress Symptoms for Adults and the Inventory of Anger Expression as State and Trait. Hypertensive participants were 9.7 times more likely to be stressed than normotensive (OR = 9.7; 95% CI: 4.0-23.5) and 19 times more likely to express anger inward (OR = 19; 95% CI: 5.3-68).