The association of social support and gender with life satisfaction, emotional symptoms and mental adjustment in patients following a first cardiac coronary event

Abstract

This study, carried out on 95 patients hospitalized because of their first cardiac coronary event, analysed the association of gender and perceived social support with life satisfaction and negative life events. More specific variables related to disease including adjustment to illness and anxiety and depression symptoms were also considered. Gender was expected to moderate the relationships between social support and the psychological variables studied. Main results showed several significant interactions between gender and social support. Men with high support reported less negative events compared with men with low support and with women with either low or high support. Women with high support used more positive adjustment compared with women with low support, whereas men did not change with social support, using always more adaptive strategies. In addition, regression analyses showed that life satisfaction was significantly predicted by social support in men. In women, this relationship was mediated by the adjustment strategies to disease. It is suggested that interventions that account for the relevance of gender and perceived support on life satisfaction, emotional distress and coping strategies following a recently diagnosed cardiac disease may facilitate adjustment and well‐being. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Life satisfaction, depressive symptoms and perceived social support in heart failure patients [Satisfacción vital, síntomas depresivos y apoyo social percibido en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca]

“…Our result is consistent with previous data suggesting health-protective action by social resources (Uchino, Cacioppo, & Kiecolt-Glaser, 1996). Positively perceived social support is associated to benefits Penninx, Kriegsman, Van Eijk, Boeke, & Deeg, 1996) resulting in high life satisfaction (Everson-Rose & Lewis, 2005;Montero, Rueda, & Bermúdez, 2012;Pérez-García et al, 2011;Rueda & Pérez-García, 2006) during the course of chronic diseases. Gender was also a signifi cant predictor; life satisfaction was more associated with male than with female patients.…”

“…It is important to consider that this hypothesis was based on studies with the women and men either recently diagnosed with a myocardial infarction (Pérez-García, Ruiz, Sanjuán, & Rueda, 2011) or one year after this diagnosis (Kristofferzon et al, 2003). Nevertheless, our patients were women and men with stable HF diagnosed years before.…”

‘Betwixt and between health and illness’ – women's narratives following acute coronary syndrome

“…Sundler et al (2009) suggest that a woman's need for meaningful supportive close relationships is intensified following ACS; however, poorly functioning relationships increase women's vulnerability and loneliness. Perez-Garcia et al (2011) affirm that women with lower functional social support are at risk of poorer adjustment, less adaptive coping and adverse outcomes in cardiac disease.…”

“…Perez‐Garcia et al . () affirm that women with lower functional social support are at risk of poorer adjustment, less adaptive coping and adverse outcomes in cardiac disease.…”

“…, Perez‐Garcia et al . ). O'Donovan and Hughes () demonstrate the harmful impact of stress on cardiac function.…”