Great Expectations: Perceived Social Support in Couples Experiencing Cardiac Surgery

This study compares patient and spousal perceived support during the cardiac surgery recovery period (1 and 3 months after surgery) and explores the effects of social support on patient/spouse subjective mood states. Significant differences in levels of perceived social support were reported by patients and spouses over time. Social support buffered the impact of caregiving burden on mood disturbance for caregiving spouses but did not significantly impact physical or mental health outcomes for patients.