THE RELATIONSHIP OF EMOTIONAL AND TANGIBLE SUPPORT TO PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AMONG OLDER WOMEN WITH HEART-FAILURE

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between so cial support, symptom severity, and psychological well-being in older women with heart failure. In-home interviews were conducted with 80 ol der women following a hospital admission for heart failure. Subjects w ere asked their perceptions of emotional and tangible support received , symptom severity, and psychological well-being. Greater emotional su pport was related to greater positive affect and satisfaction with lif e. Greater tangible support was related to less negative affect. Neith er emotional nor tangible support buffered symptom severity. The resul ts indicate that emotional and tangible support may each affect differ ent aspects of psychological well-being in older women with heart fail ure. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.