The role of type D personality and emotional intelligence with mediating of perceived stress and coping styles in the quality of life of coronary heart disease patients

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death. One of its most insidious forms is coronary heart disease (CHD) which decreases patient's quality of life. Research indicates that psychological factors are interrelated with coronary heart disease patients' quality of life. In the present study, the role of type D personality and emotional intelligence with mediating of perceived stress and coping styles in quality of life of coronary heart disease patients was investigated.

Methods: One hundred eighteen heart disease patients through excessive Convenience Sampling method were selected and completed the questionnaires of Type D personality, Coping Style, The Perceived Stress, the Emotional Intelligence and WHOQOL. Direct effects and the mediation model of variables were evaluated through path analysis by Lisrel software.

Results: Emotional Intelligence had a significant role in perceived stress, coping styles and quality of life. Moreover, Type D personality had a significant role in perceived stress and coping styles but no significant role in the quality of life. Perceived stress and coping styles had a direct role in quality of life and significantly mediated the relationship between type D personality and emotional intelligence with patients' quality of life. Reduction of heart disease patients' quality of life had a negative relationship with stress and emotional coping style and positive relationship with emotional intelligence and problem solving coping style.

Conclusion: Teaching the adaptive coping style, personality type, stress management and emotional intelligence could lead to improve the quality of life among coronary heart disease patients.