Coping, emotion and perceived health following myocardial infarction: Concurrent and predictive associations

Abstract

Objective. This paper examines concurrent and prospective relationships between coping, emotion outcomes and perceived health among first‐time myocardial infarction (MI) patients over the first 6 months of adjustment. Method. A longitudinal design was employed. Participants completed questionnaires at three time points; while in‐patients ( N = 128), at 2 months follow‐up ( N = 100) and at 6 months follow‐up ( N = 74). The questionnaires included measures of coping (COPE), positive and negative affect (Global Mood Scale), anxiety (State Anxiety Inventory) and perceived health (Health Complaints Scale). Results. Both coping and outcomes tended to be stable across time. Significant concurrent relationships stressed the role of avoidant‐, acceptance‐ and social/emotion‐focused coping. Prospectively, results emphasized the adaptive influence of problem‐focused coping. Conclusions. Coping was both concurrently and predictively associated with outcomes post‐MI. A clear distinction between concurrent and predictive associations emerged. Problems associated with relying on cross‐sectional data to inform theory and practice are highlighted. The clinical implications of the results for rehabilitation programmes are also outlined.