Document Type

Article

Journal Title

Psychosomatic medicine

Publication Date

7-1992

Volume

54

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to empirically identify individuals who differed in their patterns of components derived from the structured interview (SI), and to evaluate whether individuals characterized by the different patterns varied in terms of their risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). The present study represents a reanalysis of data from the Western Collaborative Group Study in which components of Type A were individually related to risk for CHD. Subgroups of individuals who differed in the patterns of their component scores were identified by means of cluster analytic techniques and were found to vary in their risk of CHD. As expected, a pattern of characteristics in which hostility was salient was found to be predictive of CHD. Moreover, another pattern of characteristics that appears to reflect pressured, controlling, socially dominant behavior in which hostility was not salient also was found to be predictive of CHD. Further, two patterns of characteristics were identified that were unrelated to CHD risk. Finally, two patterns of characteristics were identified that were related to reduced risk of CHD. Overall, these results suggest that future research should investigate variables in addition to hostility in regard to risk for and protection from CHD.

MeSH Headings

Adult, Coronary Disease, Humans, Individuality, Male, Middle Aged, Personality Assessment, Risk Factors, Sick Role, Type A Personality

ISSN

0033-3174

Rights

Copyright permission obtained from Wolters Kluwer to post in this repository.

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