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Myocardial Infarction and Functional Outcome Assessment in Pigs
Published on: April 25, 2014
[Life styles of myocardial infarct patients and of control groups: various similarities and differences]
Insights
Type A behavior patterns correlate with increased life changes, especially in work and family, for middle-aged men. Myocardial infarction patients reported fewer emotional drains but higher adjustment needs compared to controls.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cardiology
- Gerontology
Background:
- The Type A/B behavior pattern is linked to coronary heart disease.
- Middle adulthood involves significant life changes that can impact mental health.
- Emotional drain and depression are potential precursors to cardiovascular events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between Type A/B behavior, emotional drain, depression, and life changes in middle-aged men.
- To compare these factors in healthy males versus male myocardial infarction patients.
Main Methods:
- Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS) for Type A/B behavior.
- Maastricht Questionnaire (MQ) for emotional drain and depression.
- Middle Adulthood Life Changes Questionnaire (MALC) for life events.
- Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for statistical comparisons.
Main Results:
- Type A individuals reported more work and family life changes than Type B.
- Subjects with vital exhaustion and depression reported more distressing life changes.
- Myocardial infarction patients had lower emotional drain scores but higher adjustment scores than controls.
Conclusions:
- Life changes and behavior patterns are associated with emotional well-being and potentially cardiovascular health.
- A developmental model is needed to understand differing life trajectories of myocardial infarction patients and controls.
Abstract:
In a population sample of 'healthy' males (N = 136; age 39-41) the classifications on the Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS) for assessing the Type A/B coronary-prone behavior pattern, and on the Maastricht Questionnaire (MQ), measuring emotional drain and subsequent depression, were investigated in relation to retrospective reporting of life changes on a newly developed Middle Adulthood Life Changes Questionnaire (MALC). In ANOVA, Type A subjects (N = 70) did report significantly more life changes in their work environment and family situation over the last two years than their Type B counterparts (N = 66). For subjects reporting clearcut manifestations of vital exhaustion and depression (N = 32) the same statistical associations do hold. Also, these latter subjects did evaluate their life changes as significantly 'more distressing' or as 'requiring more adjustment'. A group of male myocardial infarction (MI) patients (N = 35; average age 52) was compared with this control group on the MQ and the MALC. The MI-group showed a significantly lower average MQ-score than the section of the control group with clearcut manifestations of emotional drain and depression. Mean 'adjustment' scores, however, were significantly higher in the MI-group. In the discussion, the requirements for a dynamic life-span developmental model for explaining the assumedly different life-courses of MI-cases and controls are enunciated.
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