title: The influence of illness severity on health satisfaction in patients with cardiovascular disease: the mediating role of illness perception and self-efficacy beliefs.
abstract: The importance of psychological factors in improving conditions of cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients is stressed by the guidelines for their prevention and rehabilitation, but little is known about the impact of illness severity on patients' well-being, and on the psychosocial variables that may mediate this association. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of illness perception and self-efficacy beliefs on the relationship between illness severity and health satisfaction in 75 CVD patients undergoing rehabilitation (80% men; mean age = 65.44) at the St. Luca Hospital, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy. Illness severity was measured in terms of left ventricular ejection fraction; psychological factors were assessed at the beginning and end of rehabilitation. Results from path analyses showed that the relationships among CVD severity and health satisfaction were mediated by illness perception and self-efficacy beliefs. Findings underscored the importance of considering illness representations and self-efficacy beliefs to improve well-being in CVD patients.
authors: a University of Milan-Bicocca.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Greco
authors: Patrizia
authors: P
authors: Steca
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Pozzi
authors: Dario
authors: D
authors: Monzani
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: Malfatto
authors: Gianfranco
authors: G
authors: Parati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: cardiovascular disease; health satisfaction; illness perception; illness severity; self-efficacy beliefs