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Predictors of depression in outpatients with heart failure: An observational study
Lucinda J Graven1, Geraldine Martorella1, Glenna Gordon1
1Florida State University College of Nursing, United States.
Insights
Depression in heart failure patients is linked to marital status and symptom burden. Perceived belonging support is crucial for psychological adaptation, while social problem-solving skills did not impact depression rates.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychiatry
- Social Science
Background:
- Depression is a frequent comorbidity in heart failure (HF) patients.
- Limited understanding exists regarding how HF symptoms and coping mechanisms influence depression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate predictors of depression in outpatients with HF.
- To examine the roles of individual characteristics, HF symptomatology, social support, and social problem-solving in depression likelihood.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study involving 201 HF outpatients.
- Utilized self-report questionnaires for symptoms, social support, social problem-solving, and depression.
- Logistic regression identified predictors of depression.
Main Results:
- Unmarried status, higher HF symptom burden, and lower perceived belonging support predicted increased depression.
- Social problem-solving subcomponents did not significantly influence depression.
Conclusions:
- Belonging support emerged as the most significant protective factor against depression in HF patients.
- Marital status, symptom burden, and belonging support are key areas for assessment to promote psychological adaptation.
Background:
Depression is a common comorbidity of heart failure. Little is known about the influence of heart failure symptomatology and coping resources, such as social support and social problem-solving, on depression.
Objective:
To examine whether individual and clinical characteristics, heart failure symptomatology, and the subcomponents of social support and social problem-solving increase the likelihood of depression in outpatients with heart failure.
Methods:
A secondary data analysis of a cross sectional study with 201 outpatients with heart failure was conducted. The following self-report questionnaires were used to collect data: the Heart Failure Symptom Survey, the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List-12, the Graven and Grant Social Network Survey, the Social Problem-Solving Inventory Revised-Short, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies - Depression scale. Descriptive statistics examined patient characteristics. Logistic regression explored predictors of depression from among individual and clinical characteristics, heart failure symptomatology, and subcomponents of social support (i.e., belonging, tangible, and appraisal support) and social problem-solving (i.e., positive and negative problem orientation; rational, impulsiveness/carelessness, and avoidance problem-solving styles).
Results:
The sample was primarily Caucasian (86.1%) male (62.6%) with an average age of 72.57 years. Individuals who were unmarried, experienced a higher symptom burden, and those who perceived less belonging support were more likely to be depressed. The subcomponents of social problem-solving did not influence depression.
Conclusions:
Belonging support was the most beneficial type of social support related to depression. Components of social problem-solving were not related to depression. Assessment of marital status, heart failure symptomatology, and perceived belonging support is needed to identify potential stressors and available social support in order to promote psychological adaptation.
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