Subjective social status and nocturnal blood pressure dipping

Marie Neubert; Philipp Süssenbach; Frank Euteneuer

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2022.111065

Subjective social status and nocturnal blood pressure dipping

J Psychosom Res. 2022 Dec:163:111065. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2022.111065. Epub 2022 Oct 19.

Authors

Marie Neubert¹, Philipp Süssenbach², Frank Euteneuer³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany; Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany. Electronic address: marie.neubert@uni-marburg.de.
² Department for Human Resources/Health/Social Sciences, Fachhochschule des Mittelstands (University of Applied Sciences), Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany.
³ Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany; Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Medical School Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

PMID: 36327531
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2022.111065

Abstract

Objective: Low social status has been linked to cardiovascular disease. Subjective social status (SSS), which represents one's perceived position in a social hierarchy, has been suggested to predict health outcomes beyond objective measures of socioeconomic status. The present study examined if lower SSS is related to reduced nocturnal blood pressure (BP) dipping, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a community sample of 53 healthy adults underwent 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring. All participants provided information on SSS and objective measures of socioeconomic status (i.e., education, occupation, and income). SSS was measured in comparison to others in the country (national SSS) as well as in comparison to one's social environment (local SSS) using the German versions of the MacArthur Scales.

Results: Analyses found that participants with low local SSS exhibited attenuated nocturnal diastolic blood pressure dipping (β = 0.29, 95% CI [0.01, 0.57], p = .043) and mean arterial pressure dipping (β = 0.29, 95% CI [0.01, 0.57], p = .041). These associations remained significant after adjusting for objective socioeconomic status. No significant associations between national SSS and cardiovascular measures were observed.

Conclusion: In conclusion, one's perceived social position in the social environment (i.e., local SSS) is associated with nocturnal BP dipping. Therefore, local SSS may be an important psychosocial factor linking social inequality and cardiovascular health.

Keywords: Blood pressure; Cardiovascular health; Cardiovascular risk factors; Nocturnal blood pressure dipping; Objective socioeconomic status; Subjective social status.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Blood Pressure / physiology
Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory
Cardiovascular Diseases* / epidemiology
Cardiovascular Diseases* / psychology
Circadian Rhythm / physiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Social Class
Social Status