Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Modification of physical activity 5 months after myocardial infarction: Relevance of biographic and personality characteristics

  • Published:
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The relation between modification of physical activity, a risk factor for coronary heart disease, and personality characteristics was assessed in 166 survivors of a first myocardial infarction (MI). Physical activity was assessed before Ml in retrospect, and again 5 months after MI. Patients were divided into 3 categories according to their current daily-life physical activities: less active than before Ml (n = 24). equally active as before Ml (n = 82), or more active than before Ml (n = 60). A significant differentiation was found between patients who became less physically active than before Ml and the other 2 categories. This less active category was characterized by feelings of disability, a low level of vigor, and feelings of anxiety. In addition, this patient group was on average older and more often female. The results were adjusted for participation in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Finally, the discussion recommends involving psychological intervention in the exercise program for the less active category of patients to diminish feelings of anxiety and disability and to improve vigor.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Appels, A., & Mulder, P. (1988). Excess fatigue as a precursor of myocardial infarction. European Heart Journal. 9(7), 758–764.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Appels, A., & Mulder, P. (1989). Fatigue and heart disease. The association between ‘rsvital exhaustion‘rs and past, present and future coronary heart disease. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 33(6), 727–738.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baban, A., Derevenco, P., Anghet, I., & Ilea, V. (1985). A putative psychophysiologic profile of coronary patients. Revue Roumaine de Sciences Sociales—Serie de Psychologic, 29(2), 139–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baurnan, A., Owen, N., & Rushworth, R. L. (1990). Recent trends and socio-demographic determinants of exercise participation in Australia. Community Health Studies, 14(1), 19–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berlin, J. A., & Colditz, G. A. (1990). A meta-analysis of physical activity in the prevention of coronary heart disease. American Journal of Epidemiology, 132(4), 612–628.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bethell, H. J. (1992). Exercise in post infarct rehabilitation. British Journal of Clinical Practice, 46(2), 116–122.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bethell, H. J., & Mullee, M. A. (1990). A controlled trial of community based coronary rehabilitation. British Heart Journal, 64(6), 370–375.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Booth Kewley, S., & Friedman, H. S. (1987). Psychological predictors of heart disease: A quantitative review. Psychological Bulletin, 101(3), 343–362.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Caspersen, C. J., Christenson, G. M., & Pollard, R. A. (1986). Status of the 1990 physical fitness and exercise objectives: Evidence from NHIS 1985. Public Health Reports. 101(6), 587–592.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chandrashekhar. Y., & Anand, I. S. (1991). Exercise as a coronary protective factor. American Heart Journal. 122(6), 1723–1739.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chesney, M. A., Black, G. W., Chadwick, J. H., & Rosenman, R. H. (1981). Psychological correlates of the coronary-prone behavior pattern. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 4, 217–230.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chesney, M. A., & Rosenman, R. H. (1985). Anger and hostility in cardiovascular and behavioral disorders. New York: Hemisphere.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. (1977). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (Rev. ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, T., Detre, T., & Weiss, S. M. (1981), Coronary-prone behavior and coronary heart disease: A critical review. Circulation, 63, 1199–1215.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeBusk, R. F., Miller, N. H., Superko, H. R., Dennis, C A., Thomas, R. J., Lew, H. T., Berget, W. E., III, Heller, R. S., Rompf, J., Gee, D., Kraemer, H. C., Bandura, A., Ghandour, G., Clark, M., Shah, R. V., Fisher, L., & Barr Taylor, C. (1994). A case-management system for coronary risk factor modification after acute myocardial infarction. Annals of Internal Medicine. 120(9), 721–729.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dembroski, T. M., Weiss, S. M., Shields J. L., Haynes, S., & Feinleib, M. (1978). Coronary-prone behavior. New York: Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Denollet, J., Sys, S. U., Stroobant, N., Rombouts, H., Gillebert, T. C., & Brutsaert, D. L. (1996). Personality as independent predictor of long-term mortality in patients with coronary heart disease. Lancet. 347, 417–421.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diederiks, J. P., Bar, F. W., Hoppener, P., Vonken, H., Appels, A., & Wellens. H. J. (1991). Predictors of return to former leisure and social activities in MI patients. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 35(6), 687–696.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dubbert, P. M., Rappaporl, N. B., & Martin, J. E. (1987). Exercise in cardiovascular disease. Behavior Modification. 11(3), 329–347.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Erdman, R. A. M. (1981). Welbevinden bij hartpatiimen. Samenstelling van ten medisc psychologis- che vragenlijst (MPVH) ter bepaling van her welzijn bij hartpatiënten [Well-being in cardiac patients]. Rotterdam, Netherlands: Erasmus Universiteit.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evers, A., Van Vliet-Mulder, J. C., & ter Laak, J. (1992), Documentatie van tests en testresearch in Nederland [Documentation of tests and test research in The Netherlands]. Assen. Netherlands: Van Gorcum & Comp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eysenck, H. J., & Fulker, D. (1983). The components of Type A behavior and its genetic determinants. Personality and Individual Differences. 4, 499–505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, H. S., & Booth Kewley, S. (1987). The “disease-prone personality”: A. meta-analytic view of the construct. American Psychologist, 42(6), 539–555.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, D. V. (1979). Female sport today: Psychological considerations. International Journal of Sports Psychology, 10, 168–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kallio, V., Hamäläinen, H., Hakkila, J., & Luurila, O. J. (1979), Reduction in sudden deaths by a multifactorial intervention program after acute myocardial infarction. Lancet, 2, 1091–1094.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, C. (1993). Factors related to the adoption of exercise among older women. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 16(3), 323–334.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Little, R. J. A. (1988). Missing-data adjustments in large surveys. Journal of Business and Economic Statistics, 6(3), 287–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lovibond, S. H., Birrell P. C., & Langeluddecke, P. (1986). Changing coronary heart disease risk-factor status; The effects of three behavioral programs. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 9(5), 415–437.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luteijn, P., Starren, J., & Dijk van, H. (1985). Handleiding Nederlandse persoomlijkheids vragenlijst [Guide to the Dutch Personality Inventory]. Amsterdam: Swets & Zeitlinger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miettinen, O. S. (1985), Theoreticat epidemiology: Principles of occurrence research in medicine. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miltleman, M, A., Maclure, M., Tofler, G. H., Sherwood, J. B., Goldberg, R. J. & Muller, J. E. (1993). Triggering of acute myocardial infarction by heavy physical exertion. The New England Journal of Medicine, 329(23), 1677–1683.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nir, Z., & Neumann. L., (1990). Motivation patterns, self-esteem and depression of patients after first myocardial infarction. Behavioral Medicine, 16(2), 62–66.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Connor, G. T., Buring, J. E., Yusuf, S., Goldhaber, S. Z., Olmstead, E. M., Paffenbarger R. S. J., & Hennekens, C. H. (1989). An overview of randomized trials of rehabilitation with exercise after myocardial infarction. Circulation, 80(2), 234–244.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oldridge, N. B., Guyatt, G. H., Fischer, M. E., & Rimm, A. A. (1988). Cardiac rehabilitation after myocardial infarction: Combined experience of randomized clinical trials. Journal of the American Medical Association, 260(7), 945–950.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oldridge, N. B., & Jones, N. L. (1986). Preventive use of exetcise rehabilitation after myocardial infarction. Acta Medica Scandinavica, 711(Suppl.), 123–129.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Paffenbarger, R. S. J., & Hyde, R. T. (1984). Exercise in the prevention of coronary heart disease. Preventive Medicine. 13(1). 3–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pennebaker, J. W. (1982). The psychology of physical symptoms. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell, K. E., Thompson. P. D., Caspersen, C. J., & Kendrick, J. S. (1987). Physical activity and the incidence of coronary heart disease. Annual Review of Public Health, 8, 253–287.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Powell, L. H. (1992). The cognitive underpinnings of coronary-prone behaviors. Cognitive Therapy and Research. 16, 123–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schuler, G., Hambrechts, R., Schlierf, G., Niebauer, J., Hauer, K., Neumann, J., Hoberg, E., Drinkmann, A., Bacher, F., Grunzs, M., & Kübler, W. (1992). Regular physical exercise and low-fat diet. Effects on progression of coronary artery disease. Circulation, 86(1), 1–11.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Uniken Venema-van Uden, M. M., Zoeteweij, M. W., Erdman, R. A. M., Smcets, J., Ebink. C., Weeda, H. W. H., Vermeulen, A., & Van Meurs-van Woezik, H. (1989). Een methode voor het bepalen van psychologisch herstel na hartrevalidatie [A method for the determination of psychological recovery after cardiac rehabilitation). Gedrag en Gezondheid Tijdschrift voor Psychologie en Gezondheid, 17(3), 122–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Ploeg, H. M., Defares. P. B., & Spielberger, C. D. (1982a). Handleiding bij de zelf analyse vragenlijst [Spielberger’ state-trait hostility index], Amsterdam: Swets & Zeitlinger.

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Ploeg. H. M., Defares, P. B., & Spielberger, C. D. (1982b). Handleiding bij de zelf beoordelings vragenlijst [Spielberger’ state-trait anxiety index], Amsterdam: Swets & Zeitlinger.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Dixhoom, J., Duivenvoorden. H. J., & Pool, J. (1990). Success and failure of exercise training after myocardial infarction: Is the outcome predictable? Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 15(5), 974–982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Dixhoom, J., Duivenvoorden, H. J., Pool, J., & Verhage, F. (1990), Psychic effects of physical training and relaxation therapy after myocardial infarction. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 34(3), 327–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Dixhoom, J., Duivenvoorden, H. J., Staal, J. A., Pool, J., & Verhage, P. (1987). Cardiac events after myocardial infarction: Possible effect of relaxation therapy. European Heart Journal. 9(11), 1210–1214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wald, F. D., & Mellcnbergh, G. J. (1990). De verkorte versie van de Nederlandse vertaling van de Profile of Mood States (POMS) [The shortened version of the Dutch translation of the Profile of Mood States (POMS)]. Nederlands Tijdschrift voor de Psychologie en haar Grensgebieden. 45(2), 86–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilde, G. J. S. (1970). Neurotische labiliteil gemeten volgens de vragenlijst methode [Amsterdam Biographic Questionnaire]. Amsterdam: F. van Rossen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zigmond, A. S., & Snaith, R. P., (1983). The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavca, 67(6). 361–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Erasmus University, 1738, 3000, Rotterdam, DR, The Netherlands

    Irma P. A. M. Huijbrechts, Hugo J. Duivenvoorden & Jan Passchier

  2. Institute of Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Rudolph A. M. Erdman

  3. Cardiology Department, University Hospital Dijkzigt, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Rudolph A. M. Erdman

  4. Cudiolngy Department, University Hospital Dijkzigt, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Jaap W. Deckers

  5. Cardiology Department, Havenziekenhuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Ineke C. M. Leenders

  6. Cardiology Department, Holy-ziekenhuis, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands

    Gheorghe A. M. Pop

Authors
  1. Irma P. A. M. Huijbrechts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rudolph A. M. Erdman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hugo J. Duivenvoorden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jaap W. Deckers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ineke C. M. Leenders
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Gheorghe A. M. Pop
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Jan Passchier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Irma P. A. M. Huijbrechts.

Additional information

This study was supported by the Netherlands Heart Foundation. NHS-project 91.117. We thank the staff of the Cardiology Departments of the University Hospital Dijkzigt, Havenziekenhuis, and Holy-ziekenhuis.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Huijbrechts, I.P.A.M., Erdman, R.A.M., Duivenvoorden, H.J. et al. Modification of physical activity 5 months after myocardial infarction: Relevance of biographic and personality characteristics. Int. J. Behav. Med. 4, 76–91 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327558ijbm0401_5

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327558ijbm0401_5

Key words

Search

Navigation