Myocardial infarction: gender differences in coping and social support

AIM: The aim of this review is to summarize current knowledge about gender differences in perceptions of coping and social support among patients who have experienced myocardial infarction. RATIONALE: Women with coronary heart disease have physical, social and medical disadvantages compared with their male counterparts, which can influence their perception of recovery after cardiac events. No review has been found which focuses on gender differences in coping and social support in myocardial infarction patients. METHOD: A computerized search was conducted using the keywords 'myocardial infarction', 'coping', 'gender differences' and 'social support'. Forty-one articles, published between 1990 and October 2002, were scrutinized. FINDINGS: Two studies report that women used more coping strategies than men. Several qualitative studies found that women used a variety of coping strategies. Women minimized the impact of the disease, tended to delay in seeking treatment and did not want to bother others with their health problems. Household activities were important to them and aided their recovery. Men were more likely to involve their spouses in their recovery, and resuming work and keeping physically fit were important to them. Women tended to report that they had less social support up to 1 year after a myocardial infarction compared with men. They received less information about the disease and rehabilitation and experienced lack of belief in their heart problems from caregivers. Further, they received less assistance with household duties from informal caregivers. Men tended to report more support from their spouses than did women. CONCLUSIONS: Traditional gender-role patterns may influence the recovery of patients who have experienced myocardial infarction. Caregivers may need to be more sensitive to gender-specific needs with regard to risk profiles, social roles, and the patient's own role identity. For many women, especially older ones, household duties and family responsibilities may be an opportunity and a base for cardiac rehabilitation.     

Relationships between coping, coping resources and quality of life in patients with chronic illness: a pilot study

Scand J Caring Sci; 2011; 25; 476–483
Relationships between coping, coping resources and quality of life in patients with chronic illness: a pilot study Background: In Sweden there are approximately about 3500 end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) and 250 000 chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. Objectives: The original purpose of the study was to determine differences between two groups of patients with chronic illness (ESRD and CHF) regarding the following study variables: coping, sense of coherence (SOC), self‐efficacy and quality of life (QOL). Following this, the aim was to explore the relationships between demographic variables (sex, age, educational level and living area) and QOL as well as between coping, SOC, self‐efficacy and QOL for the combined sample of patients with ESRD and CHF. Methods: A comparative and correlative design was used with a sample of 100 patients (n = 41 ESRD, n = 59 CHF). The data were collected during 2004, using four standardized questionnaires and regression analyses were conducted. Results: No significant differences were found between the two groups. Positive correlations were identified between SOC, general self‐efficacy and QOL, whereas negative correlations emerge between emotion‐focused coping, SOC, general self‐efficacy and QOL. SOC, general self‐efficacy and emotion‐focused coping explained 40% of the variance in QOL. Those with low SOC and general self‐efficacy showed negative correlations between emotion‐focused coping and QOL, whereas no such correlations were shown for those with high values on SOC and general self‐efficacy. Conclusions: The present results on coping and QOL correspond with previous research regarding how other groups with chronic illness handled their daily life. Preliminary results indicate that how individuals tackle their present situation is more important than which chronic illness they have. Women used more emotion‐focused coping than men, which constitute an important finding for further research.