Dissertation committee:
1. Γεώργιος Καλλέργης, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
2. Γεώργιος Αλεβιζόπουλος, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
3. Ευμορφία Κούκια, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
4. Μιχαήλ Χατζούλης,Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
5. Αθηνά Καλοκαιρινού, Καθηγήτρια,Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
6. Νικόλαος Φώτος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής,Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
7. Βενετία Βελονάκη, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια,Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
Introduction: Coronary heart disease (CHD) continues to be a huge health problem and the leading cause of death in the modern world. The relationship between cardiac and psychological disorders has been known for many years. It is common in the medical practice for psychological and cardiovascular symptoms to coexist, overlap and create problems in diagnosis.
Objective: The objective of this research was to record the quantitative and qualitative data that correlate the psychological profile with the risk of developing CHD regarding army executives, as well as with the general condition of their health.
Method & Materials: This research was carried out using a sample of army executives (N=434) who visited the department of yearly health examination of army executives, over a one year period. The majority of the participants were males, with a percentage of 78,1% and the overall age range of the participants was 20 to 60 years. Participants who visited the department came from certain military bases, located in the regions of Peloponnisos, Athens and Lamia. For the analysis of the data, an exploratory-descriptive strategy was used.
Results: The stressful life events scores of the participants had a mean value of 180,50 (SD=127,55). Furthermore, the Type A personality scores, with a mean value of 26,23 units (SD=8,09 units), the “Impulsive hostility” dimension with a mean value of 3,73 units (SD=1,78 units) and the “Delusional hostility” dimension with a mean value of 1,50 units (SD=1,54 units). Also, the “Evaluation of others” dimension with a mean value of 5,05 units (SD=2,55 units), the “Delusional guilt” dimension with a mean value of 1,03 units (SD=1,13 units) and the "Self-criticism" dimension with a mean value of 3,18 units (SD=1.77 units). Overall, the "Extroverted hostility" dimension scores with a mean of 10,27 units (SD=4,8 units), the "Introverted hostility" dimension scores with a mean value of 4,21 units (SD=2,52 units) and the “Overall hostility” dimension scores with a mean value of 14,48 units (SD=6,55 units). Based on the Overall hostility scores, 110 individuals (25,3%) had an intrusive direction (positive values) and 285 (65,7%) had an outward direction (negative values). The “Provisional stress” dimension scores with a mean value of 38,36 units (SD=10,36 units). The “Permanent stress” dimension scores with a mean value of 34,64 units (SD=10,38 units) and the Depression scores with a mean value of 3 units (0-6 units). The mean value of participants’ Atherogenic index was 3,5 (2,8 – 4,2) and based on this index, 54,6% of the participants were of low risk, 26,0% were of medium risk and 19,4% were of high risk.
Results: Participants with an Msc/PhD had lower scores by 5,68 units, namely more elements of “Type A personality”, compared to participants that were graduates of Primary schools/ high schools/ college.
Regarding Overall hostility, participants who smoke had higher scores by 1,99 units for this dimension, suggesting more intense Overall hostility compared to those who do not smoke.
Regarding Depression, 84,9% of the participants had no depression at all, 8,4% had light depression, 4,3% had average depression and 2,4% had serious depression. As the number of the elements of “Type A personality” of the participants increased, the more their permanent stress levels increased as well.
Army officials had 4,82 units more permanent stress compared to commissioned officers, and non-commissioned officers had 2,65 units more permanent stress compared to commissioned officers.
Regarding atherogenic index, males were significantly higher in percentage of medium/high risk in comparison to females. Furthermore, participants who were of medium/high risk were significantly of older age and higher BMI compared to participants of lower risk. There was a significant difference in the participants’ medium/high risk depending on their educational level as well. Furthermore, the percentage of medium/high risk was significantly higher for married participants, for overweight/obese participants, for smokers and for participants who had either siblings or children. Participants who had no medical history were in a significantly lower percentage of medium/high risk compared with those who had a medical history. Gender, age, scores of provisional stress and the BMI of the participants were found to be related with medium/high risk based on the atherogenic index.
