Abstract
The presented study aims to explore the relationship between quality of life after myocardial infarction and factors such as temperamental traits, stress coping, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Ninety-six participants, including 51 females and 45 males aged 24–85 years, who have survived ST-elevation myocardial infarction were asked to complete the Formal Characteristics of Behavior—Temperament Inventory, Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, PTSD Inventory, and Quality of Life SF-36 questionnaire. According to the obtained results, a lower level of briskness and sensory sensitivity, as well as a higher level of perseverance and endurance, correlates with a higher level of emotion-oriented coping, whereas a higher level of perseverance, endurance, and activity correlates with a higher level of avoidant-distracted coping. Moreover, a higher level of briskness and activity is correlated with a higher level of avoidant-social coping. A higher level of emotion-oriented and avoidant-distracted coping is, in turn, associated with a higher intensity of PTSD symptoms, whereas a higher level of avoidant-social coping correlates with lower intensity of PTSD symptoms. Furthermore, a higher level of avoidant-distracted coping is correlated to a better physical quality of life, whereas higher levels of endurance and activity are associated with a better emotional quality of life. Also, the more severe the PTSD symptoms, the lower quality of life in general. Contrastingly, higher sensory sensitivity and briskness correlate with better quality of life. The meaning of other temperamental traits, however, is more ambiguous. Nevertheless, the findings support the model of psychological processes in which the subsequent stages are temperament, coping, PTSD, and quality of life.
Highlights
As a result of medical advances, it is possible to treat diseases that, such as cardiovascular diseases, were formerly considered fatal
The research presented in this paper aims to explore whether the quality of life after myocardial infarction (MI) and psychological variables, including temperamental characteristics, ways of coping with stress, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are related
According to a study by Ayers et al [24], dysfunctional coping strategies were associated with PTSD after MI, whereas the findings presented by Marke and Bennett [25] indicated that problem- and emotionfocused coping styles were related to a lower likelihood of developing PTSD
Summary
As a result of medical advances, it is possible to treat diseases that, such as cardiovascular diseases, were formerly considered fatal. People formerly considered terminally ill can survive with chronic diseases for many years. This phenomenon results in new problems, e.g., stress related to one’s state of health, a necessity for both emotional and cognitive adaptation to the illness, its. There are some inevitable changes in the family and the social background of people with chronic diseases. A systematic increase in the number of effectively treated patients can be observed. A key aspect is an issue concerning adaptation to the challenges of the new circumstances resulting in a changed level of the quality of life
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