Emotion regulation, psychological capital and altruism in patients with cardiovascular disease: a case-control study

Abstract

Background: Psychological factors play an important role in well-being of patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as well as increasing risk of CVD in normal population. Because of the lack of research on comparing emotion regulation, psychological capital and altruism between CVD patients and healthy population, the aim of this study was to assess these factors in a case-control study. Methods: The 100 non-randomly included participants were categorized into two groups: 50 patients with CVD with age range of 30-60, and 50 paired-matched healthy persons. Three instruments of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ-P), Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ) and Altruistic Behavior Scale were used. Data was analyzed using the paired and independent t-test statistical analysis. Findings: Significant differences were seen between case and control groups with respect to their cognitive emotion regulation (t=-2.27; p<0.025), psychological capital (t=9.03; p<0.001) and altruism (t=7.52; p<0.001). The differences were observed in all components of cognitive emotion regulation and psychological capital as well. Discussion: CVD, as a chronic disease, lead to psychological problems such as disrupted emotion regulation and lower psychological capital. Psychological interventions are suggested considering our results to improve psychological capital and teach emotion regulation techniques to CVD patients. On the other hand, the difference in altruism and psychological capital might be due to baseline characteristics of CVD patients which suggest a higher risk of CVD in normal population with lower altruism and psychological capital; Although further longitudinal studies in needed to confirm increasing risk of CVD in people with lower altruism and psychological capital.