title: Stress experience of spouses of patients having coronary artery bypass during hospitalization and 6 weeks after discharge.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to describe stress process variables in spouses of patients having coronary artery bypass surgery during hospitalization (T1) and 6 weeks after discharge (T2). Problems and concerns of spouses at T1 and T2 and spouse perceptions of nurse support were also addressed. Eighty-six women participated in the study at T1 and 67 women participated at T2. Data were collected by self-report instruments and open-ended questions. Women reported an average number of family life changes and high levels of social support at T1 and T2. Women perceived their husband's illness severity at the extreme end of the continuum at T1 and T2. Physical and mental symptoms of stress were high at T1 but significantly less at T2. Marital quality was average at T1 but significantly less at T2. Hospital environment, lack of information, and family members were frequently reported to make hospitalization more difficult. Husband's self-care activities, uncertainty, and husband's physical and mental symptoms were concerns that spouses frequently reported at T2.
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich.
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Artinian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013997:Time Factors