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Subjective Well-being in Heart Failure Patients: Influence of Coping and Depressive Symptoms

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Abstract

Background

Psychological factors play a crucial role in the well-being of chronically ill patients.

Purpose

This research examined coping, depressive symptoms and subjective well-being (SWB) in patients with heart failure (HF). The study also analysed whether depressive symptoms mediated the association between coping strategies and SWB.

Method

Participants (N = 60, 68.3 % men, aged between 40 and 89 years old) diagnosed with HF were recruited from the cardiology service of a general hospital. Coping strategies were assessed with 16 items of the Brief COPE Scale. The items were organised, according to theoretical and empirical data, into four types of coping: task-focused, seeking social support, maladaptive emotion-focused and acceptance coping. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the corresponding subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. SWB was assessed considering the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule.

Results

The multiple regression analyses carried out indicated that SWB was positively associated with task-focused coping and inversely related to maladaptive strategies and depressive symptoms. Gender was also a significant predictor of SWB, with male patients reporting higher well-being than female patients. The mediational analysis showed that depressive symptoms partially mediated the relationships between task-focused coping and SWB.

Conclusion

Results were discussed in the light of the importance of gender, depression and coping in patients with HF since these factors may affect subjective well-being and contribute to severe physical impairment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Personality Psychology, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), C/ Juan del Rosal, 10, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Ana M. Pérez-García & Silvia Oliván

  2. Service of Cardiology, Hospital San Carlos, Madrid, Spain

    Ramón Bover

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  1. Ana M. Pérez-García
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  2. Silvia Oliván
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  3. Ramón Bover
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Correspondence to Ana M. Pérez-García.

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Pérez-García, A.M., Oliván, S. & Bover, R. Subjective Well-being in Heart Failure Patients: Influence of Coping and Depressive Symptoms. Int.J. Behav. Med. 21, 258–265 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-013-9311-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-013-9311-4

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