Abstract
D.Litt.et Phil. (Psychology)
Cardiovascular disease, and specific disorders associated with this complex disease
pattern, has been the subject of numerous investigations to determine the nature and
cause of this disturbance in both white and Black population groups in various countries
around the world. Although the findings of research into this matter has been directed
mainly towards more effective drugs and more advanced surgical techniques, there are
numerous indications in literature and current research that certain social and psychological
factors might indeed play an important part in the aetiology and nature of
cardiovascular diseases. In a developing Third World country such as the Republic of
South Africa, with its complex and heterogenous population, evidence derived from past
and current research indicates that cardiovascular disease and the consequences of
cardiovascular disease are assuming epidemiological proportions among both White and
Black South Africans.
Against this background, it appeared necessary to establish whether Black patients with
cardiovascular disease also showed the type A behaviour pattern which is closely
associated with diseases of the cardiovascular system among Whites.
The present study was therefore performed to test the hypothesis firstly that cardiovascular
disease and the type A behaviour pattern are closely associated in Blacks, and
secondly whether factors such as stress, caused by social readjustment and urbanization,
as well as anxiety and diet, plays significant role in cardiovascular disease amongst
Blacks. Four groups of patients were selected on the basis of the presence or absence
of cardiovascular disorders, and the presence or absence of the type A behaviour
pattern.
All four groups were then subjected to assessment by the Structured Interview, Jenkins
Activity Survey, Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, Grant's Urban-Rural Scale" the Social
Readjustment Rating Scale and a Health Scale to test the hypothesis that basic
differences, regarding cardiovascular diseases, existed among people who differ in
respect of personality type, social readjustment, the experiencing of anxiety and
changing lifestyle due to urbanization and dietary patterns.
A prior validation procedure for the assessment devices indicated that the tests
demonstrated adequate construct validity and factorial validity. After examining the
data of the four groups of patients obtained from the scales, the results were statistically
analysed.