Related Experiment Videos

Sex differences in predictors of illness intrusiveness 1 year after a cardiac event

Renée-Louise Franche1, Susan Abbey, Jane Irvine

  • 1Institute for Work & Health Network, University of Toronto, ON, Canada. rfranche@iwh.on.ca

Journal of Psychosomatic Research
|February 28, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Men experience more intimacy issues after a cardiac event, while partner support impacts men and women differently. Depressive symptoms predict long-term illness intrusiveness for both sexes.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychology
  • Sociology

Background:

  • Cardiac events like myocardial infarction (MI) and unstable angina (UA) significantly impact patients' lives.
  • Understanding long-term psychological and social adjustment post-cardiac event is crucial for patient care.
  • Illness intrusiveness, the extent to which illness disrupts life, varies and requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate sex differences in illness intrusiveness one year after a cardiac event.
  • To identify baseline predictors of illness intrusiveness, examining potential sex-specific factors.
  • To explore the role of social support and depressive symptoms in post-cardiac adjustment.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 139 men and 104 women hospitalized with MI or UA.
  • Baseline and 1-year follow-up questionnaires assessed illness intrusiveness, depressive symptoms, social support, and other factors.
  • Statistical analyses included MANCOVA and hierarchical regressions to examine sex differences and predictors.

Main Results:

  • Men reported greater illness intrusiveness in the Intimacy domain compared to women.
  • Partner support satisfaction had differential effects: associated with less intrusiveness in men (Instrumental domain) but more in women (Intimacy domain).
  • Baseline depressive symptoms predicted increased illness intrusiveness across multiple life domains for both sexes.

Conclusions:

  • Partner support's impact on post-cardiac adjustment differs between men and women.
  • Baseline depressive symptomatology, especially emotional symptoms, is a key predictor of sustained illness intrusiveness.
  • These findings highlight the need for sex-specific and psychologically informed cardiac rehabilitation strategies.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Factors Affecting Illness01:18

Factors Affecting Illness

When a person's physical, emotional, intellectual, social development or spiritual functioning is compromised, this deviation from a healthy normal state is called illness. Illness creates stress that in turn harms individuals. Irritation, anger, denial, hopelessness, and fear are behavioral and emotional changes an individual experiences in the phases of illness. A variety of factors influence a person's health and well-being.
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness, disability,...
Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease01:27

Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how psychological factors, particularly stress, interact with the immune system and impact physical health. Research in PNI has shown that chronic or traumatic stress can disrupt both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. These disruptions contribute to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
Assessment of the Cardiovascular System I: Subjective Data01:23

Assessment of the Cardiovascular System I: Subjective Data

A thorough health history and physical assessment are essential for identifying cardiovascular disease (CVD) symptoms and distinguishing them from other health issues.
Initial Enquiry
Ask the patient about their primary concern and thoroughly explore all reported symptoms.
Medical History
Investigate past illnesses affecting the cardiovascular system, such as angina, anemia, rheumatic fever, congenital heart disease, stroke, thrombophlebitis, dysrhythmias, varicosities
Inquire about symptoms...
Panic Disorder01:27

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and sudden minutes-long episodes of intense fear, known as panic attacks. These attacks may feel like heart attacks and often happen without warning or a specific cause. They can include symptoms such as rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, chest pain, trembling, sweating, dizziness, and a sense of helplessness. During a panic attack, individuals may feel as though they are experiencing a heart attack or are in a...
Dimensions of Health and Illness01:21

Dimensions of Health and Illness

The factors influencing the health-illness continuum can be internal or external and may or may not be under conscious control. They are related to the following eight human dimensions, and each dimension is interrelated to one other.
Classification of Illness01:17

Classification of Illness

The meaning of illness is individualized to each person who experiences an alteration in health. In contrast, disease is a medical term indicating a pathological change in the structure and function of the body or mind. It is a condition that has specific symptoms and boundaries.
An illness is a response to a disease in which the person's level of functioning is changed compared with a previous level. The general classification of illness includes acute and chronic.
Acute illness is severe and...