Study and comparison of type-D personality, social support and cognitive flexibility in normal and cardiac patients

Concerning the role of psychological factors and lifestyle in etiology of cardiac diseases, this research aims to study and compare the personality type D, social support and cognitive flexibility in normal and cardiac patients in Khoramabad.
the present research is a causal – comparative study. The studied sample was selected from all coronary artery cardiac patients attending caridiovascular clinics in Khoramabad city. 64 patients were chosen by a sampling method and compared with 64 healthy individuals who were matched. In order to measure the variables, a Filips et al (1986) questionnaire of personality type D, social support and Danis and Venervall's cognitive flexibility were used. Data was analyzed using multi–variate analysis of variance method (Manva).
The results of this study show that there is a significant difference between cardiac patients and normal people in terms of personality type D, social support and cognitive flexibility. The cardiac patients group enjoyed lower social support, cognitive flexibility and a higher average score of personality type D.
From the results of this study, it can be said that personality type D, social support and cognitive flexibility are important variables in preventing cardiac diseases which were encountered during patient's treatment.