Calligraphic Handwriting Effects on Type A Personality of Hypertensive Patients Volume 3 - Issue 2

Henry S.R. Kao¹*, Xintian Li², Jinghan Wei², Nianfeng Guo², Jiatang Zhang², Xiuqin Liu³, Cuiqin Yang³

¹Department of Psychology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

²Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing

³Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing

Received:June 25, 2021   Published: July 06, 2021

*Corresponding author: Henry S.R. Kao, Department of Psychology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

DOI: 10.32474/OAJCAM.2021.03.000158

Abstract PDF

To view the Full Article   Peer-reviewed Article PDF

Abstract

Hypertension is one of the most common worldwide diseases afflicting humans. It is a serious condition that can lead to coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, and other health problems (National Institutes of Health, 2008). People who have hypertension can take steps to control it and reduce their risks for related health problems. Key steps include following a healthy lifestyle, having ongoing medical care, and following the treatment plan that the doctor prescribes. Most people who have hypertension will need lifelong treatment. Despite progress in prevention, treatment, and control of high blood pressure, hypertension remains a major public health challenge Whelton, et.al [1].

The etiology of hypertension is multifactorial, involving genetic factors, biophysiological processes, daily experiences throughout life. Some psychosocial factors, such as the Type A behavior pattern, anxiety, and depression, also play a significant role in the etiology of hypertension, which is supported by many epidemiological investigations Krantz, et.al.[2]; Markovitz, et.al.[3]; Spicer et.al. [4]. Yan et.al. [5] followed 3,308 adults with normal blood pressures, ages 18 to 30 years, for fifteen years for the development of high blood pressure. This study gives strong support to the role of psychological characteristics in the development of high blood pressure.

Chinese Calligraphic Handwriting (CCH) is a WHO Fancourt et.al. [6] recognized effective treatment. Its training can enhance the practitioner’s cognitive abilities, relax his bodily conditions, and stabilize his emotions. Its practice in general can also lead to serene, stable, comfortable, and quiet emotional states. These changes are indicated by the participant’s physiological changes. For example, their heart rate slows down, blood pressure decreases, and digital pulse volume also increases with corresponding reduction in EMG. In addition, greater control of breathing takes place during brush writing than do their normal resting breathing, etc. Kao et.al.[7].

Furthermore, long-term calligraphic practice can exert a subtle effect on one’s personality Kao et.al.[8]; Henry et.al.[9]. To examine the effects of calligraphic activities on the traits of human personality, we studied the relationship between CCH writing experience and traits of personality by the factors from the 16- Personality Factors (16 PF) was administrated to in practising adults and children. Results showed that CCH training can shape and change children and adults’ personality to a more mature state, including being more emotionally stable, conscientious, self-sufficient, controlled and with heightened learning ability. On basis of the above observations, we carried out an experiment to see if CCH training would be able to clinically treat hypertensive patients who were comorbid with both the trait of introversion and the traits of Type A personality. We expected that the CCH training would lead to significant reduction in the subjects’ blood pressure to be indexed by the Systolic and Diastolic blood pressures.

Background| Method| Results| Discussion| References |