Perceived social support and stress-coping strategies among cardiac patients

Abstract

Abstract Social support is one of the most important factors influencing human health. It is particularly important for patients after myocardial infarction, as it helps them reduce feelings of anxiety, uncertainty and isolation. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the influence of sociodemographic variables and social support on the choice of stress coping styles among patients hospitalized for myocardial infarction. Methods This survey-based study involved 120 patients after myocardial infarction, hospitalized in the Department of Cardiology with the Intensive Cardiac Care Unit of the Independent Public Clinical Hospital No. 2, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin. The research instruments used in this study were: the author’s questionnaire and The Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors (ISSB), The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and The Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). Results Based on the collected data, it was observed that the vast majority of respondents experienced high levels of stress. Women had significantly higher levels of stress than men (0 = 0.039), and were more likely to choose an emotion-oriented coping style (p = 0.011). It was also observed that avoidance-oriented coping was significantly more often used by retirees and pensioners than by employees (0.008). The study showed that information support statistically significantly correlated with avoidance-oriented coping (AOC) (r = -0.235, p = 0.01), including social diversion (seeking social contact) (r = -0.222, p = 0.015). Emotional support statistically significantly correlated with task-oriented coping (r = -0.224, p = 0.014), and avoidance-oriented coping (r = -0.24, p = 0.008), including social diversion (r = -0.284, p = 0.002). Instrumental support statistically significantly correlated with social diversion (r = -0.259, p = 0.004). Furthermore, valuation support statistically significantly correlated with task-oriented coping (r = -0.341, p < 0.001) and emotion-oriented coping (r = 0.195, p = 0.033). Conclusion The vast majority of patients hospitalized for heart attack experience high levels of stress and receive instrumental and information support. Women have usually higher levels of stress than men, and are more likely to utilize emotion-oriented coping strategies. There is a statistically significant negative correlation between receiving information support and adopting stress-coping styles focused on avoidance and seeking social contacts.