Stressful life events, social support and coping strategies among female patients with acute myocardial infarction and their matched controls

ABSTRACT

The present research investigated differences in stressful life events, perceived social support and coping strategies among female patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction [AMI] and their matched controls. It was hypothesized that there is significant difference in stressful life events, perceived social support and coping strategies among female patients with acute myocardial infarction [AMI] and their matched controls. It was further hypothesized that there is relationship between stressful life events and coping, and between social support and coping. A self constructed stressful life events questionnaire, Berlin Perceived Social Support Scale [Schwarzer and Schulz, 2000], and Proactive Coping Scale [Greenglass, 1999] were used for measuring study variables. The sample of the present research comprised of 50 females [25 diagnosed with AMI and 25 age matched controls]; recruited from three major hospitals of Lahore city. Age of the study sample ranged from 45-65 years. Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used for analysis of the data. Independent sample t- test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation were used. The findings suggested that there is significant difference in stressful life events, perceived social support and coping strategies among female patients with AMI and their matched controls. A positive correlation was found between stressful life events and coping strategies, and between social support and coping strategies employed. Implications of the study along with limitations and suggestions were discussed for future researches