Personal attribution for myocardial infarction and life-style prior to the event

Abstract

MALE in-patients with a diagnosis of first myocar dial infarction (MI) were assessed on perceived health, body fat, smoking, alcohol consumption and exercise behaviours, together with Type A behaviour and health locus of control. Patients' attributions for their MI, and affect during the hospitalisation period, were also evaluated. Eighty five per cent of the patients were smokers, but less than one-third of them believed that smoking was a causal factor in relation to their own MI. The majority of patients perceived themselves to have been in good health prior to the event: the greater the perceived health, the greater the anxiety during hospitalisation. Anxiety was also elevated in those patients who believed that they had little control over their own health (Externals). Stress was spontaneously identi fied as a contributor to their MI by over forty per cent of patients, and by more than two-thirds when asked directly. Compared with Type Bs and Externals, more Type As and Internals attributed their infarct to stressors. Occupational stressors in particular were credited with causal status, especially by Type As. Relatively few patients attributed their MIs to other traditional risk factors. Whether or not male MI patients know which behaviours are associated with coronary disease, it appears that they are reluctant to attribute their own MI to such behaviours.