. Zohreh Khayyam Nekouei; . Hamid Taher Neshat Doost; . Alireza Yousefy; . Gholamreza Manshaee; . Masoumeh Sadeghei
Volume 4, Issue 3 , June 2014, , Pages 1-8
Abstract
Background: Although psychological factors are now recognized as playing a significantand independent role in the development of coronary heart disease (CHD) and itscomplications, many ...
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Background: Although psychological factors are now recognized as playing a significantand independent role in the development of coronary heart disease (CHD) and itscomplications, many of these factors are correlated with each other. The present study isaimed at examining the association between alexithymia and anxiety depression, stress,quality of life, and social support in CHD patients. Materials and Methods: In this research398 patients with coronary heart disease (166 females and 232 males) from the city ofIsfahan were selected using random sampling. The tools used included depression, anxiety,and stress scale (DASS-21), Health-related to Quality Of Life (HRQOL-26), Multiple ScalePerceived Social Support (MSPSS-12), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). The datawere analyzed using structural equation modeling by using the Statistical Package for SocialScience (SPSS21) (IBM Corp: Armonk, New York.U.S.) and Asset Management OperatingSystem (AMOS21) SPSS, an IBM Company: Chicago, U.S. Software. Results: Results ofthe structural equation model showed an acceptable goodness of fit, for the explanationalexithymia that was significantly associated with lower HRQOL and social support andincreasing anxiety, depression, and stress. Conclusions: Alexithymia may increase anxiety,depression, and stress and can be a predisposing factor to poorer HRQOL and socialsupport.