CORRELATES OF POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH IN PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH CORONARY HEART DISEASE

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this research was to investigate the correlates of Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) in patients diagnosed with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). It was hypothesized that posttraumatic growth is associated with optimism and coping styles. It was further hypothesized that there are gender differences in PTG and optimism.

Research Design: Within group research design was used in this study.

Place and Duration of the Study: Data was gathered from two government hospitals having a functional cardiology unit, situated in the city of Lahore over a period of six months.

Sample and Method: The sample consisted of 80 patients, males (n=60) and females (n=20), drawn through non probability based purposive sampling technique. Self-administered standardized scales translated into Urdu language; Posttraumatic Growth Inventory[1], Life Orientation Test-Revised[2] and Brief Cope Scale[3] were used to measure posttraumatic growth, optimism and coping respectively.

Results: The above proposed hypotheses were inferred by carrying out hierarchical multiple regression.  Results of our study indicated that PTG is

[1] Tedeschi, R.G., & Calhoun L.G. (1996). The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory: Measuring the Positive Legacy. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

[2] Scheier, M. F., Carver, C. S., & Bridges, M. W. (1994). Distinguishing optimism from neuroticism and trait anxiety, self-mastery, and self-esteem: A re-evaluation of the Life Orientation Test. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 1063-1078

[3] Carver, C. (1997). You want to measure coping but your protocol's too long: Consider the Brief COPE. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 4(1), 92-100.