Psychosocial predictors of cardiac rehabilitation quality-of-life outcomes

ObjectiveThis study investigated hostility, social support, coping, depression, and their contributions to concurrent and posttreatment quality of life (QoL) among a group of patients participating in a 6-week cardiac rehabilitation program.MethodBoth direct and mediational relationships among psychosocial factors, QoL baseline, and QoL outcome were examined using structural equation modeling analysis, while age, education, and severity of illness (risk for future event) were controlled.ResultsThe final model was well supported (χ2=64.88, df=56, P>.05; CFI=.99, RMSEA=.04). Results indicated that baseline QoL, hostility, and depressive symptom severity directly and independently predicted QoL outcome, while depression and hostility were also associated with baseline QoL. Hostility, social support, and maladaptive coping also contributed to baseline and follow-up QoL by their associations with depression.ConclusionPsychosocial characteristics were interrelated, and they predicted postrehabilitation QoL outcome directly or indirectly through depression symptom severity.