Sex differences in predictors of illness intrusiveness 1 year after a cardiac event
Abstract
Objective: This prospective study examined sex differences in
illness intrusiveness and in baseline predictors of illness intrusiveness
in cardiac patients' I-year postcardiac event. Methods:
Patients diagnosed with a myocardial infarction (MI) or unstable
angina (UA) completed a baseline questionnaire during their
hospitalization (139 men and 104 women). Eighty-one men and 67
women completed the follow-up questionnaire I-year postcardiac
event. The questionnaire included measures of illness intrusiveness
in three life domains, depressive symptomatology, social support,
medical information, risk factors for heart disease, and sociodemographic
information. Results: A MANCOVA with the three Illness
Intrusiveness subscales as dependent variables, sex as the between-group
factor, and partnership status as a covariate found a sex effect
for the Intimacy subscale, but not for the Instrumental and the
Relationships/Personal Development subscales. Men reported more
intrusiveness in the Intimacy domain of their life as compared to
women. After controlling for sociodemographic factors and risk factors for heart disease, hierarchical regressions indicated sex
differences in baseline predictors of I-year follow-up illness
intrusiveness in the three life domains. For men, being satisfied
with support from partner at baseline was associated with less
intrusiveness in the Instrumental Life domain 1 year after the
cardiac event. For women, surprisingly, more satisfaction with
support from their partner at baseline was associated with more
intrusiveness in their intimate lives 1 year after their cardiac event.
In addition, emotional symptoms of depression at baseline were
predictive ofincreased illness intrusiveness in Relationship/Personal
Development and Intimacy domains for men and in Instrumental
and Intimacy domains for women. Conclusion: Support from
partner may have a differential impact for men and women after a
cardiac event. Depressive symptomatology during initial hospitalization,
particularly emotional symptoms, is a prominent indicator
ofillness intrusiveness for both sexes 1 year after the cardiac event.
illness intrusiveness and in baseline predictors of illness intrusiveness
in cardiac patients' I-year postcardiac event. Methods:
Patients diagnosed with a myocardial infarction (MI) or unstable
angina (UA) completed a baseline questionnaire during their
hospitalization (139 men and 104 women). Eighty-one men and 67
women completed the follow-up questionnaire I-year postcardiac
event. The questionnaire included measures of illness intrusiveness
in three life domains, depressive symptomatology, social support,
medical information, risk factors for heart disease, and sociodemographic
information. Results: A MANCOVA with the three Illness
Intrusiveness subscales as dependent variables, sex as the between-group
factor, and partnership status as a covariate found a sex effect
for the Intimacy subscale, but not for the Instrumental and the
Relationships/Personal Development subscales. Men reported more
intrusiveness in the Intimacy domain of their life as compared to
women. After controlling for sociodemographic factors and risk factors for heart disease, hierarchical regressions indicated sex
differences in baseline predictors of I-year follow-up illness
intrusiveness in the three life domains. For men, being satisfied
with support from partner at baseline was associated with less
intrusiveness in the Instrumental Life domain 1 year after the
cardiac event. For women, surprisingly, more satisfaction with
support from their partner at baseline was associated with more
intrusiveness in their intimate lives 1 year after their cardiac event.
In addition, emotional symptoms of depression at baseline were
predictive ofincreased illness intrusiveness in Relationship/Personal
Development and Intimacy domains for men and in Instrumental
and Intimacy domains for women. Conclusion: Support from
partner may have a differential impact for men and women after a
cardiac event. Depressive symptomatology during initial hospitalization,
particularly emotional symptoms, is a prominent indicator
ofillness intrusiveness for both sexes 1 year after the cardiac event.