Defensiveness and metabolic syndrome: Impact of sex and age

The association between defensiveness and metabolic burden, as well as the moderating effects of sex and age were evaluated in 199 healthy working men (N = 81) and women (N = 118), aged 20–64 years (M = 41; S.D. = 11.45). Defensiveness (Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale) and parameters of metabolic syndrome (MS; waist circumference, HDL, triglycerides, glucose, 24 h ambulatory blood pressure) were obtained. In men, defensiveness was inversely related to MS burden (Beta = −.288; p = .001), as well as to individual measures of SBP, DBP, glucose and waist circumference (p < .05). In older women, high defensiveness was associated with a greater MS burden (p = .050) and glucose level (p = .005) while the reverse was true in younger women (p = .012). In conclusion, defensiveness was associated with a worse metabolic profile in older women but may be protective for men and younger women. Understanding the pathophysiological processes underlying these associations could elucidate sex and age differences and inform prevention efforts.