Alcohol Use and Blood Flow in College Men: The Relationship with Personality

Hypertension affects 1 in 3 adults and is becoming increasingly more prevalent among young adults. Nearly 18% of young adults have prehypertension, a preliminary condition increasing risk for hypertension. Hypertension and prehypertension are both more prominent among men than women, and are predisposed by alcohol consumption. The literature is inconsistent regarding the association between self-reported alcohol consumption and blood pressure (BP) in men, with studies supporting J-shaped and dose-response associations. Previous studies are also conflicted regarding the acute impact of alcohol on BP, appearing to have no effect on normotensive men and variable effects on hypertensive men. Inconsistent findings may be due to individual differences in personality (i.e., conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism, hostility) mediating the relationship between alcohol intake and BP. The present study (N = 155) examined this model in a sample of young adult men (18-25 years) through self-report measures (n = 154). The acute relationship between BP and alcohol consumption was also assessed in a subsample by administering alcohol in a standardized laboratory setting (n = 17). Results indicated acute alcohol consumption significantly increased nighttime systolic blood pressure (SBP). In addition, hostility appeared to suppress the relationship between alcohol consumption and SBP. Findings are discussed.