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(Hypertension. 2000;35:496.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.
Scientific Contributions |
Socioeconomic Status and Blood Pressure Reactivity in Healthy Black Adolescents
From the Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Hypertension (D.K.W., D.A.S.), Department of Medicine, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the Department of Psychology (W.K., L.P.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.
Abstract—Adolescents in low-socioeconomic-status environments are more susceptible to illnesses, such as hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. This study examined the influence of both neighborhood- and family-level socioeconomic status (SES) on blood pressure (BP) reactivity in a healthy sample of 76 black adolescents. It was hypothesized that a higher level of parental education and/or income would reduce the elevated BP reactivity associated with living in poorer neighborhoods. Census-derived data were obtained using each participant’s address. Neighborhood level of SES was based on percentage of households below the poverty line, female-headed households, owner-occupied housing, percentage vacant housing, and average number of persons per household. Family level of SES was based on self-reported level of parental education and annual family income. Adolescents participated in a competitive video game to establish their BP reactivity scores. As predicted, adolescents who lived in poorer neighborhoods had lower diastolic BPs if their parents were more (versus less) educated (P<0.05; 7±8 versus 13±6 mm Hg). Adolescents who lived in poorer neighborhoods also had significantly lower diastolic BP reactivity (P<0.05) if their family had a higher (versus lower) annual income (7±7 versus 12±8 mm Hg). These data are the first to demonstrate the buffering effect of family SES on the negative health consequences of living in low-SES neighborhoods in healthy black adolescents.
Key Words: cardiovascular reactivity • social economic status • education • adolescents
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