Depression Differentially Predicts Quality of Life at levels of Self-Efficacy and Social Support in Cardiovascular Patients

Objective: The objectives of the study were twofold: i) to assess whether depression independently predicts four quality of life (QOL) domains in CVD patients; and ii) whether depression interacts with self-efficacy and perceived social support to predict QOL domains among cardiovascular diseases (CVD) patients. Methods: Participants were 174 CVD patients taken from three major government sector hospitals of Lahore who were assessed on self-report measures of depression, self-efficacy, social support and QOL. Results: It was found that depression was a significant negative predictor of all four QOL domains among CVD patients. Furthermore, results from regression analysis demonstrated that depression significantly interacted with self-efficacy to predict physical and environmental QOL. Additionally, depression interacted with social support to physical and social QOL. Specially, depression was a stronger negative predictor of QOL domains at lower levels of self-efficacy and social support while it was a poor predictor at higher levels of self-efficacy and support. Conclusion: It was concluded that social support and self-efficacy act as buffering factors against devastating effects of depression on QOL among CVD patients.