# The impact of psychological factors on hypertension and its psychological intervention in pilot selection candidates

## TL;DR

This study shows that psychological factors like stress and anxiety affect blood pressure in people with hypertension, and psychological interventions can help reduce it.

## Contribution

The study introduces a combined psychological intervention approach for managing hypertension in pilot selection candidates.

## Key findings

- Perceived stress was significantly correlated with blood pressure in the hypertension group.
- Psychological interventions reduced blood pressure and improved retest pass rates.
- Anxiety levels increased across all groups, suggesting interventions may not work through anxiety reduction.

## Abstract

Individual blood pressure levels can be influenced by psychological factors.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between hypertension and psychological states, as well as the underlying mechanisms, using a combination of cross-sectional comparison and experimental intervention.

A total of 102 individuals with hypertension and 108 individuals with normal blood pressure participating in pilot selection were recruited. Individuals with hypertension were divided into two intervention groups and a control group: one group received relaxation therapy alone, while the other received a combination of relaxation therapy and cognitive training. Questionnaires were administered to assess anxiety levels and perceived stress.

The results showed a significant positive correlation between perceived stress and blood pressure in the BBG, and a marginal positive correlation between anxiety and blood pressure. No such correlations were found in the normal blood pressure group. Pre- and post-intervention analyses indicated that the intervention group exhibited a significant reduction in blood pressure compared to baseline levels, along with a notably higher retest pass rate. However, anxiety levels increased significantly across all groups.

These findings suggest that blood pressure is influenced by anxiety and perceived stress, and psychological interventions can effectively manage blood pressure. However, these interventions may not primarily operate through reducing anxiety, and further research is needed to explore the psychological mechanisms involved.