SOCIAL SUPPORT AND ADJUSTMENT IN WOMEN FOLLOWING CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS SURGERY

Abstract

Social support expected, discrepancies in support (differences between support expected and received), and self-esteem were used to predict emotional (tension and depression) and functional outcomes (recreation, housework, and social life) in a sample of women who had coronary artery bypass surgery ( N = 86). Women were interviewed before hospital discharge (T1) and 1 (T2) and 3 (T3) months later. Higher self-esteem was associated with lower depression and tension (T3) and less disruption in social interaction (T2 and T3) and recreation (T3). Results suggest that social support may influence outcomes through enhancement of self-esteem. Directions for further study are given.