title: [Validity of potential support--a pilot study of myocardial infarct patients].
abstract: This investigation examines the validity of potential (anticipated) support as an indicator of social action. A comparison of anticipated support with received support in the past is problematic; other research variants have to be found. A comparison of two samples offers possible validation: asking one sample about the potential support, with regard to a possible crisis, and asking the second sample about actually received crisis support. This study examines received social support in a population of 30 myocardial infarction patients, and anticipated social support among 30 healthy individuals (on the assumption that they would suffer from a cardiac-infarct). The findings suggested that patients self-reported support values are lower than the expected support of the disease-free population. In particular, the healthy individuals expected support from their spouses and grown-up children. On the contrary the patients often name their doctors in this context. In general the findings suggested that the expected support with regard to an imagined crisis is a problematical indicator (validity problem). Alternative explanations are possible; the explanation that results are effects of patients perception bias is less likely.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Psychologie, Universität Salzburg.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mitteregger
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Baumann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pichler
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Teske
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010556:Personality Tests; D012803:Sick Role; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support
vernacular_title: Zur Validität potentieller Unterstützung--Eine Pilotstudie bei Herzinfarktpatienten.