Protective psychological factors in patients with myocardial infarct and in control group

█ Original article

DOI: 10.26430/CHUNGARICA.2022.52.4.309

Authors:
Rafael Beatrix^1,2, Pongó Zsófia^3
1Szegedi Tudományegyetem, Szent-Györgyi Albert Klinikai Központ, Preventív Medicina Tanszék, Szeged
²Szegedi Tudományegyetem, Szent-Györgyi Albert Klinikai Központ, Ápolásszervezési és Szakdolgozói Oktatási Igazgatás, Szeged
³Szegedi Tudományegyetem, Bölcsészettudományi Kar, Pszichológiai Intézet, Szeged
Levelezési cím:
Dr. Rafael Beatrix, rafael.beatrix@med.u-szeged.hu

Summary

Introduction: Many studies have investigated the impact of negative emotions on health, but fewer have analysed the health effects of positive psychological factors. Results suggest that positive psychological factors are independently associated with cardiovascular benefits, beyond the simple absence of negative states.
Aim: In our pilot study, we analysed the level of life satisfaction, psychological well-being, social support, and resilience in a sample of patients after myocardial infarction and healthy controls, comparing risk factors with perceived stress and anxiety. A total of 60 people participated in the study, 30-30 per group (average age 55 years). The cardiac patient group completed the questionnaires in paper the control group completed the questionnaires online.
Results: The level of life satisfaction, psychological well-being and friend’s subscale of multidimensional social support were lower in cardiac patients compared to the control group. The level of social support was negatively associated with anxiety and perceived stress level in both study groups.
Conclusion: The results of our study highlight the importance of investigating protective psychological factors in both healthy individuals and cardiac patients. 

ISSUE: CARDIOLOGIA HUNGARICA | 2022 | VOLUME 52, ISSUE 4