Coping, mood and behaviour following myocardial infarction: Results of a pilot study

Thirty-seven participants completed questionnaires reporting coping strategies, mood and behaviour both while in hospital following first myocardial infarction and 3 months subsequently. Mood, coping and behaviour at follow-up were measured concurrently. While in hospital, participants were asked to report their behaviour during a typical week prior to their hospitalization. Analyses reported here concentrate on the relationship between coping and mood and behaviour. After partialling out pre-morbid measures, hierarchical stepwise regression analyses showed both measures of mood and behaviour were predicted by the coping strategies reported in hospital. Anxiety was associated with measures of both problem- and emotion-focused coping. In contrast, depression was predominantly associated with emotion-focused coping. Cigarette smoking, mild exercise and alcohol consumption were each associated with coping strategies: only diet was not predicted by coping variables. The implications of these findings for cardiac rehabilitation are discussed.