Anxiety and self-care following myocardial infarction

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between trait and state anxiety experienced during hospitalization for an acute myocardial infarction and self-care behaviors several weeks after the infarction. Sixty-two male (n = 39) and female (n = 23) subjects were interviewed during their hospital stay and again 3 months after discharge. State and trait anxiety were measured by the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Test. Medication, exercise, smoking, diet, and stress management self-care were measured by Miller's Health Behavior Scale. The findings revealed low correlations between trait anxiety and exercise performance, medication administration, stress management, and smoking cessation behavior, and between state anxiety and smoking behavior. The findings were interpreted in light of the conceptual differences between state and trait anxiety, and suggest that mental health interventions during hospitalization should emphasize teaching patients to manage their own anxiety instead of directly intervening to reduce current levels of anxiety among this population.