The Sources of Pressure that The Heart Patients in Saudi Arabia Face in The Light of Demographical Variables

Abstract

The study aimed at identifying the sources of steress and methods of response among cardiac patients in Saudi Arabia in light of some of the demographic variables (sex, age, marital status, educational attainment). The study used descriptive and comparative approach that is compatible with the study objectives. A measure of sources of stress and methods of response developed by the researcher had been applied to a sample of 160 cardiac patients of both sexes attending outpatient clinic at King Khaled Hospital and King Tabuk with average age of 37.1 years and a standard deviation of ± 8.4 years. The most important findings of the study wre that patients who are 51 years of age or older, married, illiterate and have secondary education scored high on sources of stress dimensions. As for the methods of response, the patients aged 20 to 30 years scored high on the emotional response, whereas, married patients scored high on social support and active response and illiterate patients obtained higher scores on withdrawal and avoidance. The study concluded with recommendations based on its findings.