Abstract

Objective: To examine cardiovascular response as a function of children's aggression after controlling for the effects of known risk factors.

Method: Participants were 140 children in second, fourth, and sixth grades. Teachers completed the Matthews Youth Test for Health, a measure that includes questions pertaining to children's aggression. Measures of blood pressure and heart rate were obtained during baseline, academic quiz, and recovery.

Results: Increasing age and body mass index were associated with increased cardiovascular responses. Aggressive children exhibited higher heart rates at baseline and lower heart rate reactivity. Aggressive children with a positive parent history of hypertension exhibited the greatest cardiovascular response.

Conclusions: These results provide further support for the identification of behavioral factors that increase cardiovascular risk in children.

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