Atherosclerosis precursors in Finnish children and adolescents. XI. Psychological aspects.
The role of psychic risk factors in the early history of atherosclerosis was studied in 3,596 Finnish children and adolescents, aged 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 years. The family atmosphere, behavioural pattern and self-esteem were tested. The results showed that the abuse of alcohol by the parents and daily smoking by the child were the factors most clearly indicating the existence of psychic problems. The results showed that boys manifested in every age group behaviour most disposed to coronary heart disease (CHD). Furthermore, low serum HDL-cholesterol, high serum triglycerides, thick triceps skinfold and self-esteem problems coexisted and they can be supposed to independently contribute to the aetiology of CHD.
D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk; D012424:Rural Population; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment; D014505:Urban Population