Self-efficacy and quality of life among people with cardiovascular diseases: A meta-analysis

Self-efficacy forms key modifiable personal resources influencing illness management, rehabilitation participation, and their outcomes such as perceived health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among people with a cardiovascular disease (CVD). Yet, an overarching research synthesis of the self-efficacy-HRQOL association in the CVD context is missing. This systematic review and meta-analysis of research on the self-efficacy-HRQOL relationship among people with CVD investigates whether the strength of associations depends on conceptualizations of self-efficacy and HRQOL (general vs. specific), presence of cardiovascular surgery, the type of CVD diagnosis, and patients' age (up to 60 vs. older than 60). Research Method/Design: We searched the following databases: PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Academic Search Complete, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, and MEDLINE. This search resulted in 17 original studies (k = 18 samples) included in the meta-analysis.

Findings suggested that stronger self-efficacy was associated with better HRQOL (r = .37; 95% CI [.29, .44]). Moderator analyses indicated stronger associations when HRQOL was measured in a general way (compared to CVD-specific) and when self-efficacy was measured in a general or exercise-specific way (as opposed to CVD symptom-specific). Self-efficacy-HRQOL associations were similar in strength across age groups, regardless of presence of cardiovascular surgery, and among patients diagnosed with different forms of CVD.

General and exercise-specific self-efficacy are moderately related with HRQOL among people with CVD after surgery or during rehabilitation. Results need to be interpreted with caution due to heterogeneity of original research and the dominance of cross-sectional designs. (PsycINFO Database Record