The relationship between cognitive perception of self-concept and coping styles in heart failure patients

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Psychology
• Health Sciences

Background:

• Heart failure (HF) is a chronic condition impacting patients' psychological well-being.
• Self-concept and coping mechanisms are crucial for managing chronic illnesses like HF.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between self-concept and coping styles in Iranian patients with heart failure.
• To identify specific coping strategies associated with threats to self-concept in this population.

Main Methods:

• Correlational study design.
• 100 heart failure patients from Vali-Asr Hospital, Iran, participated.
• Validated questionnaires assessed self-concept and coping styles.

Main Results:

• Significant associations found between emotion-oriented coping and threat to self-concept (total, physical sensation, self-consistency).
• Avoidance-oriented coping was significantly associated with threat to self-concept (total, body sensation).
• No significant association between problem-oriented coping and threat to self-concept.

Conclusions:

• Emotion-oriented and avoidance coping styles are linked to negative self-concept perceptions in heart failure patients.
• Problem-oriented coping does not appear to be related to self-concept threat in this group.
• Findings suggest potential targets for psychological interventions in heart failure management.