State and trait anxiety in islander cardiac patients: associated factors and the impact of perceived social support

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiac patients frequently experience elevated levels of anxiety, which may influence clinical outcomes. Perceived social support is a precious resource with which to minimise anxiety. The aim of the study was to explore levels of perceived social support, levels of anxiety (state and trait), and the associated factors as well as the impact of patents' characteristics and social support on anxiety. Material and methods: The study sample consisted of 82 island inhabitant patients with cardiac problems (49 men and 33 women). Data collected by the completion of the State-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) and the Multidimensional scale of perceived social support questionnaire (MSPSS). The statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results: Regarding state and trait anxiety, half of the patients scored below 37 and 38, respectively, (medians) while 25% of participants scored more than 50 and 48, respectively. These values indicate moderate levels of anxiety. Regarding social support, at least 50% of patients scored over 27, 27, and 20 (median) on support from significant ones, family, and friends, respectively. In addition, 25% of patients scored above 28, 28, and 26, respectively. These values indicate high levels of social support. The association between anxiety and social support was found to be linearly negative, meaning that the more support a patient felt, the less anxiety they also experienced. Conclusions: Enhancing perceived social support may be a key-element in alleviating anxiety among cardiac patients.

Patient Perceptions and Quality of Life in Pacemaker Recipients

“… 21 Also, an increase in social support either by significant ones, family, or friends leads to a decrease in state and trait anxiety. 24 …”

“…This finding emphasizes the need to evaluate patients’ perspectives that exert a significant influence on cardiac disease, such as changing health behaviors, following recommended treatments, and rehabilitation. 24 More dependency-related issues are anticipated to emerge at the forefront of clinical practice along with PM technology progression. Technological advances in electronic device implantation are inevitably associated with several improvements in health and longevity but simultaneously induce a degree of care of advanced complexity.…”

Perceived Social Isolation in Heart Failure

“… 10 Moreover, an increase in fatigue indicates an increase in deterioration of the quality of life 11 Clinical outcomes in HF depend also on psychological stress in the form of anxiety and depression, 12 while the more the support, the less the anxiety. 13 …”

The Evolutionarily Mismatched Impact of Urbanization on Insomnia Symptoms: a Short Review of the Recent Literature

“…For instance, a study on a group of Taiwanese youth found that having an inadequate amount of support from one's kin was directly related to heightened insomnia complaints ("β = −0.06") (p. 1) [47], while another study on a group of American teenagers has demonstrated that such an experience could also be indirectly predictive of greater insomnia complaints (in this case, at the conclusion of their initial high school year by means of its effect on such sleep difficulties at the start of it) (B = "−.01") (p. 1033) [48]. This is in juxtaposition to a handful of other findings that have either contradicted these outcomes (e.g., [52]) or has suggested that the insomnia-mitigating benefit of help and comfort provided by others may not be exclusive to the support one can obtained from kin (e.g., [53]). Although there were emerging evidence demonstrating the existence of the kin support-insomnia symptoms relationship across a longer timeframe (e.g., [48]), most of the empirical investigations on this association were likewise carried out at a single timepoint.…”