Gender differences in quality of life among cardiac patients.

Objective: Prior studies of quality of life among cardiac patients have examined mostly men. This study evaluated gender differences in quality of life and examined the degree to which social support was associated with quality of life.

Methods: A sample of 536 patients (35% women) was recruited during a 14-month period from the inpatient cardiology service of a University-based hospital.

Hostility and anger expression in African American and European American men is associated with cardiovascular and lipid reactivity.

Physiological stress reactivity has been examined with respect to cynical hostility and anger expression, but primarily among Caucasians. Investigations of African Americans are far fewer and have focused only on the cardiovascular system. This study compared the relationships between hostility and anger expression on the one hand, and both cardiovascular and lipid reactivity on the other, among African Americans and European Americans.