Psychological correlates of hostility among patients undergoing coronary angiography

Abstract

The Cook‐Medley Hostility (Ho) scale (Cook & Medley, 1954) has been associated with increased risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). There is relatively little information about the psychosocial correlates of the Ho scale in clinical or adult populations, however. In this study, 132 patients (mean age = 53 years) referred for diagnostic coronary angiography completed a battery of self‐report questionnaires including the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), Hopkins Symptom Check List (SCL‐90), State‐Trait Personality Inventory (STPI), Type A Self‐Rating Inventory (TASRI), and Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS). Examination of the pattern of correlations among the Ho scale and the psychometric instruments revealed that the Ho scale may be viewed as tapping four general behavioural dimensions including anger and hostility, neuroticism, social maladjustment and ineffective coping style. These findings serve to further understanding about the psychological dimensions of hostility as measured by the Cook‐Medley Ho scale.