Title
Expression of Anger and Ill Health in Two Cultures: An Examination of Inflammation and Cardiovascular Risk
Date Issued
14 February 2015
Access level
open access
Resource Type
research article
Author(s)
Kitayama S.
Park J.
Boylan J.M.
Miyamoto Y.
Levine C.S.
Markus H.R.
Karasawa M.
Coe C.L.
Kawakami N.
Love G.D.
Ryff C.D.
Abstract
Expression of anger is associated with biological health risk (BHR) in Western cultures. However, recent evidence documenting culturally divergent functions of the expression of anger suggests that its link with BHR may be moderated by culture. To test this prediction, we examined large probability samples of both Japanese and Americans using multiple measures of BHR, including pro-inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein) and indices of cardiovascular malfunction (systolic blood pressure and ratio of total to HDL cholesterol). We found that the link between greater expression of anger and increased BHR was robust for Americans. As predicted, however, this association was diametrically reversed for Japanese, among whom greater expression of anger predicted reduced BHR. These patterns were unique to the expressive facet of anger and remained after we controlled for age, gender, health status, health behaviors, social status, and reported experience of negative emotions. Implications for sociocultural modulation of bio-physiological responses are discussed.
Start page
211
End page
220
Volume
26
Issue
2
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Psicología (incluye relaciones hombre-máquina)
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84922690329
PubMed ID
Source
Psychological Science
ISSN of the container
09567976
Sponsor(s)
This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Aging (5R37AG027343) to conduct the Midlife in Japan survey for comparative analysis with the Midlife in the United States survey (National Institute on Aging Grant P01-AG020166).
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus