title: Types of social support and their relationships to physical and depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life in patients with heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the various types of social support associated with physical and depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with heart failure (HF) and the mediating effects of symptoms on the relationship between social support and HRQOL.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Patients with HF have a high burden of physical and depressive symptoms, along with poor HRQOL. Social support may improve symptoms and HRQOL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on social support (marital status, family relationships, relationships with health care providers, social networks, emotional support, and instrumental support), symptoms, and HRQOL were collected from 71 patients. Hierarchical regression was used to analyze the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Emotional support was related to all physical and depressive symptoms and HRQOL. Physical and depressive symptoms mediated the relationship between emotional support and HRQOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further studies are needed to identify ways to improve emotional support and determine whether the improvement leads to improvements in symptoms and HRQOL.
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Nursing, 4301 W. Markham Street #529, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. Electronic address: sheo@uams.edu.
authors.forename: Seongkum
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.affiliation: University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
authors.forename: Terry A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Lennie
authors.affiliation: University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
authors.forename: Debra K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.affiliation: Office of Educational Development, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, USA.
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Emotional support; Heart failure; Quality of life; Social support; Symptoms