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The ‘distressed’ personality, coping and cardiovascular risk
Author(s) -
Martin Luci A.,
Doster Joseph A.,
Critelli Joseph W.,
Purdum Michael,
Powers Catherine,
Lambert Paul L.,
Miranda Vanessa
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
stress and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1532-2998
pISSN - 1532-3005
DOI - 10.1002/smi.1320
Subject(s) - personality , coping (psychology) , type d personality , psychology , clinical psychology , social support , heart rate variability , disease , developmental psychology , social psychology , medicine , heart rate , blood pressure
Type D (or ‘distressed’) personality has shown success in predicting hard medical outcomes (e.g. morbidity and mortality) in cardiac patients. Little is known about the relationship between Type D individuals prior to disease, or the role that coping may play in individuals with the distressed personality. The present study examined the relationships among Type D Personality, coping strategies, and heart rate variability (HRV) in a non‐medical sample of young adults. Social supportive coping was found to moderate the relationship between Type D personality and HRV. Additionally, as compared to non‐Type Ds, Type D individuals more often relied on avoidant forms of coping, and they less often relied on positive/problem focused strategies or social support to cope. Implications for primary prevention and future research were discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.