title: Goal processes in relation to goal attainment: predicting health-related quality of life in myocardial infarction patients.
abstract: Goal theory suggests that both goal attainment and psychological processes concerning goal pursuit can influence a patient's (health-related) quality of life (HRQL) (e.g. Carver & Scheier, 1999). In the present longitudinal study, 46 MI patients completed questionnaires shortly after hospitalization and four months later, assessing a health, social and individual goal for the coming year, goal conflict, goal self-efficacy, goal attainment and HRQL. The results of a multiple regression analysis suggest that both goal conflict and goal self-efficacy predict goal attainment. Furthermore, goal self-efficacy appeared to be an independent predictor of physical and social HRQL. Goal attainment had a medium effect on social HRQL, but its effect was mediated by goal conflict and goal self-efficacy. A goal theory perspective seems to offer additional insights into HRQL after an MI.
authors.affiliation: Health and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Leiden University, The Netherlands. boersma@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
authors.forename: Sandra N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Boersma
authors.forename: Stan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Joekes
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dusseldorp
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006040:Goals; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires