Do cognitive coping and goal adjustment strategies used shortly after myocardial infarction predict depressive outcomes 1 year later?
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the extent to which cognitive and goal-related coping strategies used shortly after myocardial infarction predicted depressive outcomes 1 year later.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 88 persons who had experienced a myocardial infarction 3 to 12 months before first data assessment. Cognitive coping and goal adjustment strategies were assessed at time 1 by the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and the Goal Obstruction Questionnaire, respectively. Depressive symptoms were assessed at both time 1 and time 2 by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.


CONCLUSIONS
The results showed that cognitive coping strategies (rumination, catastrophizing, and positive refocusing) and goal adjustment strategies predicted 39% of the variance in depressive symptoms at follow-up. In addition, little change in depressive symptom scores was observed after 1 year. The results with regard to the prospective relationships between coping and depressive symptoms provide important targets for intervention.
Garnefski
Nadia
N
Department of Clinical, Health and Neuropsychology, Leiden University, the Netherlands. Garnefski@fsw.LeidenUniv.nl
Kraaji
Vivian
V
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006040:Goals; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires