THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG SOCIAL SUPPORT AND SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM RECOVERY OUTCOMES IN MEN WITH CORONARY HEART-DISEASE

To determine the extent to which social support from the spouse and a health care provider (HCP) is associated with short- and long-term rec overy outcomes in individuals after a cardiac illness, 93 patients wer e interviewed 2 months (short-term) after their event; 73 (78%) subjec ts responded to a follow-up questionnaire 1 year later (long-term). Ta ngible aid from the spouse was associated with better short-term psych ological recovery. Satisfaction with and more emotional support from t he spouse were associated with better short- and long-term psychologic al recovery outcomes. Greater satisfaction with HCP support was associ ated with patients' short- and long-term physical recoveries. These re sults highlight the value of different sources and types of support as having differential effects on physical and psychological recovery ou tcomes. (C) 1995 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.