Distress in partners of cardiac patients: relationship quality and social support

Abstract

Introduction:While much research has focused on supporting patients' psychological recovery after an acute cardiac event, relatively little attention has been given to the psychological wellbeing of partners of patients. There are some indications that partners experience higher levels of anxiety and depression than cardiac patients. Previous studies have identified sociodemographic and behavioural predictors of distress in partners. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the quality of the marital relationship and the social support network impact on partner distress in the aftermath of a patient's cardiac event.Method:A mixed-method approach, including questionnaires and semistru..