Social Support and Cardiac Rehabilitation

Evidence from epidemiologic studies suggests that the social support provided by a person's social network may be correlated with the incidence of coronary artery disease. These studies are reviewed in this article, and their relevance to cardiac rehabilitation is explored. Social support as perceived by the individual includes emotional, tangible (service) informational, and appraisal assistance, and it is defined in terms of quantity, structure, and function. Determinants of perceived social support include age, sex, culture, personality and behavior patterns, sense of control, self-appraisal, and time. The crisis and recovery phases of cardiac events offer opportunities for health-care providers to improve the quantity and quality of support as perceived by their patients. In turn, enhanced support may improve adherence to more healthful nutritional and exercise habits. It is recommended that future research seek to develop a behavioral risk profile analogous to the physiologic risk profile concept that has been helpful in controlling patients' risk for cardiac events and the recurrence of such events.