Impact of Life Stress and Personality Factors on Psychological Differentiation among Cardiac Patients

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are often accompanied by significant psychological challenges that influence patients' emotional well-being, coping abilities, and overall adjustment to illness. The study aimed to explore the levels of life stress, personality factors, and psychological differentiation among cardiac patients, as well as to investigate the relationships among these variables and their predictive contribution to psychological differentiation. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The sample consisted of 200 cardiac patients selected through purposive-cum-incidental sampling from hospitals and healthcare centers of Darbhanga district. Cattell's Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 PF) was used to determine personality factors of the respondents. A standardized Life Stress Scale was used to assess the level of life stress. Psychological differentiation was measured by administering Witkin’s Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT). The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product-moment correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that cardiac patients generally experienced moderate levels of life stress and psychological differentiation. Personality assessment indicated the presence of both adaptive and maladaptive personality characteristics influencing patients' adjustment to illness. A significant negative relationship was found between life stress and psychological differentiation, suggesting that higher levels of stress were associated with lower levels of psychological differentiation. Furthermore, significant relationships were observed between various personality factors and psychological differentiation. Personality traits reflecting emotional stability, self-reliance, and adaptability were positively associated with psychological differentiation, whereas traits related to apprehension, tension, and emotional vulnerability showed negative associations. The regression analysis demonstrated that life stress and personality factors jointly contributed significantly to the prediction of psychological differentiation, with personality factors emerging as a stronger predictor. The study concluded that both life stress and personality factors play a crucial role in shaping the psychological differentiation of cardiac patients.