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Cardiac health: relationships among hostility, spirituality, and health risk

Renee Sethness1, Maureen Rauschhuber, Annette Etnyre

  • 1School of Nursing & Health Professions, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX 78209, USA. sethness@universe.uiwtx.edu

Journal of Nursing Care Quality
|February 3, 2005
PubMed

Insights

This study found that young Hispanic males with lower spirituality and higher distrust had increased cardiac risk factors. Simple, low-cost health screenings effectively identify at-risk individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Public Health
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality.
  • Early identification of cardiac risk factors is crucial for prevention.
  • Psychosocial factors, such as hostility and spirituality, may influence cardiovascular health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between hostility, spirituality, and cardiac risk factors in young Hispanic males.
  • To identify predictors of systolic and diastolic blood pressure in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 100 young Hispanic males was assessed.
  • Data collected included blood pressure, medical history, capillary blood screening, and body mass index.
  • Hostility and spirituality were measured using standardized tools.

Main Results:

  • Over 50% of participants were prehypertensive or hypertensive.
  • One third had at least two objective cardiac risk factors.
  • Younger participants reported lower spirituality and higher cynical distrust.
  • Body mass index, spirituality, and glucose significantly predicted systolic blood pressure.
  • Body mass index and age significantly predicted diastolic blood pressure.

Conclusions:

  • Low-cost, "low-tech" tools are effective for identifying cardiac risk in populations.
  • Psychosocial factors like spirituality and distrust are associated with cardiovascular risk in young Hispanic males.
  • Targeted interventions addressing these factors may improve cardiovascular health outcomes.

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