DIMENSIONS OF HOSTILITY AND MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION IN ADULT MALES

The present case-control study investigated the association between di mensions of hostility and myocardial infarction (MI) in adult males. H ostility was measured with the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI), which assesses two distinct dimensions of hostility namely experienti al and expressive hostility. Cases were 81 males who were admitted in hospital because of a first MI. The reference group consisted of 168 a ge-matched, healthy male neighbourhood controls. Analyses revealed tha t especially experiential hostility (comprised of the subscales Resent ment and Suspicion) was significantly associated with MI. These result s are in contrast with the findings of previous studies, which showed expressive hostility to be positively related to coronary heart diseas e (CHD). Explanations for these contradictory findings are discussed.