Objectives. Low emotional intelligence (EI) may predispose individuals to applying maladaptive coping strategies. This may maintain anxious worrying, which is highly prevalent in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and may affect mental (MCS) and physical component summaries (PCS) of health-related quality of life (HRQoL).Design. The current study is a cross-sectional and cross-cultural survey.Methods. N = 200 outpatients with CHF were recruited at cardiology institutes in Germany and Pakistan and assessed with self-report questionnaires.Results. Path analysis (v 2 (4) = 7.59, p = .11, GFI = .99) revealed that the expected associations between low EI and lower SF-36 MCS and PCS of HRQoL were fully mediated by negative metacognition and maladaptive coping in the Pakistani sample (p's ≤ .05). The German sample applied different maladaptive coping strategies, which also led to lower MCS and PCS scores, but did not mediate a direct positive effect of EI on HRQoL.Conclusion. The current findings support culture-independent validity of the metacognitive model but also reveal major cultural differences regarding the application and effect of specific maladaptive coping strategies. This has important implications for caregivers in a cross-cultural context and highlights the need for culture-specific tailoring of psychosocial interventions.

No abstract

No abstract

Religion and social support along with trait emotional intelligence (EI) help individuals to reduce stress caused by difficult situations. Their implications may vary across cultures in reference to predicting health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A convenience sample of N = 200 chronic heart failure (CHF) patients was recruited at cardiology centers in Germany (n = 100) and Pakistan (n = 100). Results indicated that trait-EI predicted better mental component of HRQoL in Pakistani and German CHF patients. Friends as social support appeared relevant for German patients only. Qualitative data indicate an internal locus of control in German as compared to Pakistani patients. Strengthening the beneficial role of social support in Pakistani patients is one example of how the current findings may inspire culture-specific treatment to empower patients dealing with the detrimental effects of CHF.