Experienced Health, Life Satisfaction, Sense of Coherence, and Coping Resources in Individuals Living with Heart Failure

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore relationships between experienced health, sense of coherence, coping resources, and life satisfaction in individuals living with heart failure. Twenty-two patients--12 men and 10 women--were included in the study. All subjects were admitted to a eight-week programme of aerobic training. Four questionnaires were used: the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MHLF), the Sense of Coherence scale (SOC), the Coping Resources Inventory (CRI), and the Life Satisfaction Checklist of Fugl-Meyer et al. After the exercise programme the mean score of MLHF was significantly lower as compared with the start of the programme. The majority of the individuals reported that they were satisfied with life as a whole, family life, partnership relation contact with friends, and their psychological state of health. Only one-third were satisfied with their sexual life. A high sense of coherence and coping resources characterized the subjects. There was a slight tendency for those who reported satisfaction with life as whole to report a stronger sense of coherence, a higher degree of coping resources, and a lower degree of symptoms of heart failure. A conclusion was that clinicians should emphasize that patients can continue to remain active and enjoy a reasonable quality of life.