Prediction of Emotional Repression based on Alexithymia and Type D Personality in Cardiovascular Patients

Hanie Elahimehr; Mahnaz Shahgholian; Mohammad Hossein Abdollahi; Fariba Rajabi

doi:10.18502/ssu.v29i8.7660

Hanie Elahimehr Department of General Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
Mahnaz Shahgholian Department of General Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Hossein Abdollahi Department of General Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
Fariba Rajabi Clinical Development and Research Unit, Rajaei Educational and Medical Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ssu.v29i8.7660

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease, Alexithymia, Personality type D.

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is one of the causes of mortality in the world, which psychological factors play an important role in its occurrence and exacerbation. This study aimed to investigate the prediction of emotional repression based on alexithymia and type D personality in cardiovascular patients.

Methods: Participants were 100 patients with coronary artery disease selected through accidental sampling from the patients undergoing treatment at Rajaee Heart Hospital in Karaj City and completed TAS-20, DS14 and ECQ questionnaires. The validity and reliability of all three questionnaires have been confirmed in domestic and foreign studies. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 Software and Pearson correlation, Multiple regressions.

Results: The correlation results showed that there was a significant relationship between alexithymia and personality type D with emotional repression in the cardiac patients at the level of 0.05, and the results of multivariate regression results showed that alexityymia and personality type D did not predict emotional repression.

Conclusion: Alexithymia, personality type D, and emotional repression are risk factors for the development and exacerbation of cardiovascular disease.