SOCIAL SUPPORT, DEPRESSION, AND ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING IN OLDER HEART-SURGERY PATIENTS

A theoretical model that specifies relationships among depression, ADL impairment, and social support components was tested using 147 patien ts age 55 and older undergoing open heart surgery for angina pectoris or aortic stenosis. Patients completed interviews and self-reports bef ore surgery and one and 6 months after surgery. The longitudinal data were analyzed using covariance structure modeling techniques. Consiste nt with an initially theorized structural model, the number of close n etwork members seen regularly before surgery was associated with perce ived adequacy of support one month after surgery. in turn, perceived a dequacy of support one month after surgery predicted less depression a nd less ADL impairment at 6 months. The number of close network member s seen regularly was also directly associated with less ADL impairment at one month and less depression at 6 months after surgery.