Social support and its relation to fear and anxiety in patients awaiting coronary artery bypass grafting

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to ascertain social support resources available for patients awaiting coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and the effect of social support on their fear and anxiety. A postal questionnaire was sent to 270 patients awaiting CABG in one hospital, 207 of whom responded. Norbeck's Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ) was used. The quality of basic cardiac information (QBCI) and the social support wanted (WSS) by patients were measured with an instrument developed for this study. Fear was measured with the Bypass Grafting Fear Scale (BGFS) developed for this study. Anxiety was measured with Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The results were analysed using frequency and percentage distributions, cross-tabulation, non-parametric tests and logistic regression. Heart patients' spouses provided the most emotional and tangible aid. Low emotional support from the social network was associated with high anxiety. Half the patients rated the quality of basic information as good or excellent. Those who perceived the quality of information to be excellent experienced mild fear. Those who displayed high fear wanted informational support from nurses more often than patients with lower fear. We conclude that the fear and anxiety of patients awaiting CABG are connected with their social support resources.

Spirituality and Negative Emotions in Individuals With Coronary Heart Disease

“…39 This study showed that a higher level of perceived social support in individuals with CHD was associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and anger. These findings are in line with previous studies that have indicated the associations between perceived social support with depressive symptoms, 55 anxiety, 56 and anger. 57 Interestingly, our findings showed that compared with spirituality, perceived social support was more important in associations with less depressive symptoms.…”

Social support, depression, functional status, and gender differences in older adults undergoing first-time coronary artery bypass graft surgery

“…We also did not find a relationship between social support and more rapid postoperative functional status, as has been reported elsewhere. 13, 18 We did not find a gender difference in social support or relationship between social support and lower functional status as in prior research. 22,45 In the interest of reducing measurement burden in this sample of somewhat frail older adults, our use of a single question to assess for social support may have lacked sensitivity.…”

“…Social support may be tangible assistance (eg, instrumental; providing money or arranging transportation) or intangible assistance (eg, cognitive, emotional or informational help) provided by family members, friends, coworkers, relatives, church members, neighbors, or health care givers. 15,16 The benefits of social support in patents undergoing CABG (ages collectively 35-82 years) included fewer cardiac symptoms, less preoperative anxiety, and less depression; 6,17 better social adjustment; 12 more rapid postoperative recovery; 13,18,19 less rehospitalization and lower mortality rate. 20,21 In a contrasting study of 159 Finnish patients undergoing CABG, higher social support was associated with lower functional status and higher anxiety; 22 the researchers theorized that participants developed dependent relationships on those providing assistance and that dependence on others produced anxiety in the Finnish culture.…”

Patients' and significant others' health-related quality of life one month after coronary artery bypass grafting predicts later health-related quality of life

“…7,29 The most important sources of support for patients and significant others at both points of measurement were family members and friends, which is in line with earlier research findings. 16,44 Patients and significant others received mainly affect from people in their social support network, providing them with the opportunity to vent their emotions, for instance. Access to emotional support from the support network is considered particularly important.…”