SOCIAL SUPPORT AND LONG-TERM RECOVERY FROM CORONARY-ARTERY SURGERY - EFFECTS ON PATIENTS AND SPOUSES

Using a longitudinal design, the effect of social support on recovery from coronary bypass surgery was examined in 155 patients and 103 of t heir spouses. Perception of the availability of 5 types of social supp ort was relatively stable from preoperation to 1 year after surgery an d was significantly related to emotional and functional outcomes. Of t he 5 types of support measured, only esteem support was significantly and consistently related to outcomes for patients and spouses. This re lationship was strongest within-time, and across-time relationships ef fects were weaker. Spouse's perception of support was related to patie nt outcomes, controlling for patient perceptions of support. Results s uggest that perception of esteem support may be the most salient type of support related to feelings of well-being during and after an acute health-care event. In addition, perception of social support may be c haracterized by stable individual differences.