Aggression,self-confidence,and cardiovascular reactions in competitive performance in adolescent boys

Interactions between suggested risk factors for the development of coronary heart disease (namely aggression, competitive performance, and cardiovascular reactions) were studied in 36 adolescent boys. Different manifestations of aggression were measured using a structured interview, the aggression-impatience factor of the MYTH test, and observation. Self-confidence was assessed by means of an interview. The performance tests used were the Stroop Color Word test and the P-factor test. Cardiovascular reactions were measured using an automatic noninvasive sphygmomanometer with a continuous recording system. Results showed that the significance of aggression in performance or competition cannot be evaluated separately; aggression in itself had an injurious effect on performance, but when combined with high self-confidence it resulted in a high level of performance. High cardiovascular reactivity was related to competitiveness rather than aggression. The results emphasize that before intervention programs for behavioral risk factors of coronary heart disease are planned, there are many questions to answer.