No abstract

The Cook and Medley (1954) Hostility (Ho) scale has been used in several important studies evaluating potential health consequences of hostility. A relative lack of compelling information about the construct validity of the Ho scale, however, has raised concerns about the appropriate interpretation of previous research. In this study, 60 married couples discussed a low conflict topic, a high conflict topic, and then a second low conflict topic. High Ho men responded to the high conflict topic with significant increases in self-reported anger and anxiety and overt hostile behavior, but low Ho men did not. Furthermore, compared to low Ho men, high Ho men blamed their wives more for their usual disagreements on the high conflict topic and saw their disagreement-engendering behavior as more intentional. Among women, Ho scores were weakly related only to overt hostile behavior. Finally, couples consisting of two low Ho persons displayed a uniquely agreeable interactional style.

Previous research has indicated that the risk conferred by men's Type A versus B behavior depends, in part, on the personality characteristics of their spouses. In the present study of 60 married couples, we found that couples consisting of two Structured Interview-defined Type A's showed a larger increase in hostile/dominant behavior during discussions of marital conflicts than did couples consisting of two Type B's or a Type A husband and a Type B wife. Couples consisting of a Type B husband and a Type A wife displayed an intermediate level of hostile dominance. These results are consistent with previous speculations about interpersonal dynamics in Type A behavior and interaction patterns which might underlie spouse effects on Type A behavior and coronary risk.

This paper examines the theory and research on the subject of sexual activity post myocardial infarction. An etiological model of sexual dysfunction following MI is presented, treatment implications from the model are discussed, and a treatment program with specific interventions is discussed. Extensions of the conceptual model and treatment outline result in a format for feasible "preventative" therapy implemented immediately following the cardiac event. Emphasis is placed on the systemic etiology and effects of sexual dysfunction.