Locus of Control and Type-D Behaviour Pattern in Coronary Heart Disease Patients

Abstract

This study explored the association of locus of control, negative affectivity and social inhibition with coronary heart disease patients.  2 x 2 factorial design with two groups (CHD patients and Control group) and 2 genders (Male and Female) was planned.Sample consisted of 50 male and 50 female CHD patients of the age range 25 to 50 years, education at least up to high school and suffering from CHD at least for the preceding one year period.  Only those patients were selected who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of CHD, diagnosed by the cardiologists. Patients with a history of psychiatric or any other psychosomatic disorders were excluded from the sample. Another group of 50 male and 50 female  controls of the same age range and education was included in the sample who did not had any history of psychiatric or any other psychosomatic disorders.  Hindi adaptation of Rotter’s Locus of Control Scale (Kumar & Srivastava, 1984 and Hindi adaptation of D S - 14(Verma and Khan, 2006) was administered to these groups individually.CHD patients were found to be externally controlled. They exhibit tendency to experience negative emotions and to inhibit these emotions while avoiding social contacts with others. They tend to worry, to take a gloomy view of life, and to feel tense and unhappy. They are more easily irritated and in general are less likely to experience positive mood states. At the same time, they are less likely to share their negative emotions with others for fear of rejection and disapproval.