Acute Experiences of Negative Interpersonal Interactions: Examining the Dynamics of Negative Mood and Ambulatory Blood Pressure Responses Among Black and Hispanic Urban Adults.

This article investigates the relationship between negative interpersonal interactions and ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) among Black and Hispanic urban adults, focusing on whether negative mood mediates this association. Using a 24-hour ecological momentary assessment (EMA) design with 565 participants, the study found that momentary increases in negative interpersonal interactions predicted higher systolic and diastolic ABP, with negative mood partially mediating these effects both concurrently and over time. Although lifetime discrimination was linked to more frequent negative interpersonal interactions, neither race/ethnicity nor lifetime discrimination moderated the relationship between negative interactions and ABP. The findings highlight psychobiological pathways connecting social stressors to cardiovascular health and suggest potential targets for interventions aimed at mood regulation following negative social experiences.