This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Moser, D. K. Articles by Dracup, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Moser, D. K. Articles by Dracup, K.

Role of Spousal Anxiety and Depression in Patients’ Psychosocial Recovery After a Cardiac Event

From the College of Nursing, University of Kentucky (D.K.M.), Lexington, KY; and School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco (K.D.), San Francisco, CA.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Debra K. Moser, RN, DNSc, Professor and Gill Chair of Cardiovascular Nursing, College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0232. E-mail: dmoser{at}email.uky.edu

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to a) compare emotional responses and perception of control of patients and their spouses to myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization; and b) examine the relationship between spouses’ emotional distress and patients’ emotional distress and psychosocial adjustment to the cardiac event.

METHODS: A total of 417 patient–spouse pairs were recruited after the patient was hospitalized for either acute myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization. We compared emotional responses of patients and spouses. The relationship between spouse anxiety and depression, and patient psychosocial distress was then determined.

RESULTS: Spouses had higher levels of anxiety (p < .001) and depression (p < .001) than did patients, but there were no differences in level of hostility. Patients also expressed higher levels of perceived control than did spouses (p < .001). Spouse anxiety, depression, and perceived control remained correlated with patient psychosocial adjustment to illness, even when patient anxiety and depression were kept constant. Patients’ psychosocial adjustment to illness was worse when spouses were more anxious or depressed than patients, and it was best when patients were more anxious or depressed than spouses, whereas psychosocial adjustment to illness was intermediate to these 2 extremes when patient and spouse anxiety and depression levels were similar (p = .001).

CONCLUSION: Spouses often experience greater anxiety and depression and less perceived control than patients themselves. Attention to the psychological distress experienced by spouses of patients who have suffered a cardiac event may improve outcomes in patients.

Key Words: anxiety, • depression, • acute myocardial infarction, • psychosocial distress.

Abbreviations: AMI = acute myocardial infarction;; MAACL = Multiple Affect Adjective Check List;; NYHA = New York Heart Association;; PAIS = The Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. A. Sheridan, M. L. Sherman, T. Pierce, and B. E. Compas Social support, social constraint, and affect in spouses of women with breast cancer: The role of cognitive processing Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, February 1, 2010; 27(1): 5 - 22. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. K. Moser "The Rust of Life": Impact of Anxiety on Cardiac Patients Am. J. Crit. Care., July 1, 2007; 16(4): 361 - 369. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. K. Moser, B. Riegel, S. McKinley, L. V. Doering, K. An, and S. Sheahan Impact of Anxiety and Perceived Control on In-Hospital Complications After Acute Myocardial Infarction Psychosom Med, January 1, 2007; 69(1): 10 - 16. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]