Personal control and coronary artery disease: how generalized expectancies about control may influence disease risk.

Generalized expectancies about control are examined as a possible independent risk factor for coronary artery disease in a sample of subjects undergoing coronary angiography. This characteristic is also examined as a possible underlying component of the Type A behavior pattern which may contribute to the latter's association with heart disease. Regression analyses adjusting for age, sex, income and known risk factors for heart disease (hypertension, serum cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, angina, family history of CHD, hostility and Type A behavior pattern) indicate that having a stronger belief in personal mastery or control is an independent predictor of more severe coronary atherosclerosis. This characteristic, however, is not significantly related to the Type A behavior pattern.