Psychosocial predictors of cardiac rehabilitation quality-of-life outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated hostility, social support, coping, depression, and their contributions to concurrent and posttreatment quality of life (QoL) among a group of patients participating in a 6-week cardiac rehabilitation program.


METHODS
Both direct and mediational relationships among psychosocial factors, QoL baseline, and QoL outcome were examined using structural equation modeling analysis, while age, education, and severity of illness (risk for future event) were controlled.


RESULTS
The final model was well supported (chi(2)=64.88, df=56, P>.05; CFI=.99, RMSEA=.04). Results indicated that baseline QoL, hostility, and depressive symptom severity directly and independently predicted QoL outcome, while depression and hostility were also associated with baseline QoL. Hostility, social support, and maladaptive coping also contributed to baseline and follow-up QoL by their associations with depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychosocial characteristics were interrelated, and they predicted postrehabilitation QoL outcome directly or indirectly through depression symptom severity.
Shen
Biing-Jiun
BJ
Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124-0751, United States. bshen@miami.edu
Myers
Hector F
HF
McCreary
Charles P
CP
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011584:Psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome