Psychological characteristics of frustration management in coronary patients

Objectives - The aim of the present study is to investigate psychological characteristics of frustration management and their consequences in coronary patients. Methods - A sample of N = 58 myocardial infarction patients completed questionnaires measuring self-efficacy (Schwarzer), negative affectivity and social inhibition (type D, Denollet), coping strategies (Coping Questionnaire for Coronary Patients [CQCP], Maes); Anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS], Zigmond and Snaith), quality of life after myocardial infarction (MacNew Heart Disease Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire, Hillers) and frustration management (Picture Frustration Study [PFS], Rosenzweig). Results - The results show that frustration management in coronary patients differs significantly from that of the reference population. During frustration management the coronary patients present comparatively higher levels of culpability (high I answers) or denial of the responsibility of others (high M answers), as well as lower levels of aggressiveness (low E answers) than the reference population. Furthermore, myocardial infarction patients tend to rather repress their feelings (few ED answers) and to look for active solutions (high NP answers) (Table 1). Patients with a high self-efficacy score look significantly more for active solutions in their frustration management (NP) (r = 0.27), whereas patients with negative affectivity and social inhibition look for fewer solutions (respectively r = -0.31, r = -0.26). The social inhibition is significantly associated with answers of "Obstacle Dominance" (OD) (r = 0.28). Within the four coping strategies studied, only the focusing on the problem resolution one is significantly linked to the frustration management responses. Patients using a problem-focused strategy show lower levels of "Ego Defence" for frustration management (r = -0.31) and higher levels of "Need-Persistence" (NP) (r = 0.31). Furthermore, results show that "Ego Defence" (ED) is positively related to anxiety (r = 0.27), whereas "Need persistence" (NP) is negatively linked to anxiety (r = -0.28) and negatively to depressive affects (r = -0.29). Patients indicating more extrapunitive answers (E) report significantly lower levels of quality of life (r = -0.29), whereas non-punitive answers (M) are associated with higher degrees of quality of life (r = 0.31). No other significant associations were found between frustration answers and quality of life