Relationship between Stress Coping Styles, Negative Automatic Thoughts, Life Quality and Happiness in Hospitalized Cardiovascular Patients

Regarding the increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, efficient factors such as happiness seems vital in reducing hospitalization of cardiovascular patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between stress coping styles, negative automatic thoughts, life quality and happiness in hospitalized cardiovascular patients in Ahvaz, Iran. A sample size of 100 patients with cardiovascular disease was randomly selected in three hospitals (Golestan, Imam Khomeini and Naft) in Ahvaz, Iran. Four questionnaires including Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS, to evaluate stress coping styles), healthy survey index, Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ, to assess negative automatic thoughts) and Oxford Happiness Inventory were used. Correlation and regression analysis were applied to analyze the data. A significant association (P0.01) was found between task-oriented coping style, emotional-oriented coping style, negative automatic thoughts, life quality and happiness in patients with cardiovascular disease. According to regression analysis, it was found that the predictive variables might predict happiness with 67%. Negative automatic thoughts, life quality and task-oriented coping style were considered as the best predictors of happiness. It is suggested that improving stress coping styles, raising life quality and using interventional styles to reduce negative automatic thoughts may be accompanied with happiness in patients with cardiovascular disease and improve their health.