Type D personality as a predictor of poor health outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease

Type D Personality, Social Support, and Depression Among Ethnic Chinese Coronary Artery Disease Patients Undergoing a Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: An Exploratory Study

This study investigated the relationships between Type D personality, depression, and social support among ethnic Chinese coronary artery disease (CAD) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions. Type D personality is associated with CAD, and may increase patients' depression and mortality rate. However, very few studies have explored the relationships between depression and social support among ethnic Chinese Type D CAD patients. A longitudinal, repeated-measures design was used; 105 Taiwanese CAD patients undergoing a percutaneous coronary intervention were recruited between January and December 2015. A demographic questionnaire, Type D Scale, ENRICHD Social Support Inventory, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 were completed by 102 participants (mean age = 64.42, SD = 13.67 years) at hospitalization, and at the second week and third month after discharge. Data were analyzed using t tests and a generalized estimating equation. Results indicated that 46.7% of participants who had Type D personality had lower social support and higher depression than did the remaining (non-Type D) participants. At two weeks after discharge, the improvement in social support was higher among Type D patients than non-Type D participants; the same was true for depression at two weeks and three months after discharge each. Type D Taiwanese CAD patients showed lower perceived social support and higher depression during hospitalization than did non-Type D participants. Furthermore, the more social support patients received at home, the lower was their depression. Health-care providers should provide continuous mental health care, conduct early screening of mental health issues, and ensure that patients receive sufficient social support to reduce depression.

Type D Personality as a Predictor of Resilience Among Nursing Students

BACKGROUND

Understanding the factors that influence resilience is especially important in the context of emotionally demanding work environments in health care. The aim of this study is to examine the associations between Type D personality and resilience among nursing students.

METHOD

A correlational study design was used, and 150 baccalaureate nursing students participated. The Type D personality subscale, sense of coherence questionnaire, and Baruth protective factors inventory were used. Linear regression analysis and Student's t tests were used.

RESULTS

The negative affectivity subscale of the Type D scale was a significant predictor for resilience and sense of coherence. Students with high levels of Type D characteristics had significantly lower levels of resilience and sense of coherence.

CONCLUSION

It would be beneficial to include specific interventions for decreasing negative affectivity and promoting stress coping skills training in the training programs in nursing school curricula. [J Nurs Educ. 2018;57(5):296-299.].