[Cardiovascular effects of active coping behavior in mental and social stress situations during various incentive conditions].

The main purpose of this study was to examine the cardiovascular effects of active coping behavior during mental and social challenge. Furthermore, the additional effects of monetary incentives were explored. A total of 80 normotensive male students of the ages 19 to 30 years served as subjects. Statistical analyses revealed strong task-specific effects on systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) as well as heart rate (HR). Compared to Mental Arithmetic and Preparing a Discussion Task, social challenges during Discussion lead to exaggerated increases in SBP (37.6 mmHg) and HR (26.1 bpm) coupled with intermediate elevations in DBP (18.0 mmHg). Monetary incentives were associated with enhanced HR reactivity. The intra-task correlation pattern showed a remarkable across-task stability of correlations between SBP and HR reactivity scores, with an apparent lack of significant correlations between SBP and DBP reactivity scores. Results of inter-task correlations supported the hypothesis of specific cardiovascular response patterns that might be indicative of different aspects of active coping with mental and social stress.