Key result
Higher social support links to better post-PCI health behaviors, with progression fear mediating ~14% of effect.
Why the study?
The mediating role of fear of disease progression in the relationship between perceived social support and health-promoting behaviors among middle-aged and young patients after PCI required clarification to provide a theoretical basis for targeted interventions.
Cross-Sectional (n=265)
No
In young and middle-aged patients following PCI, perceived social support is positively associated with health-promoting behaviors both directly and indirectly by reducing fear of disease progression, highlighting the importance of integrating social and psychological support into post-PCI rehabilitation.
Social support was associated with better post-PCI behaviors partly via fear mediation; leaves open whether targeting these improves outcomes.
Objective This study aims to investigate the mediating role of fear of disease progression in the relationship between perceived social support and health-promoting behaviors among middle-aged and young patients after PCI, providing a theoretical basis for developing targeted interventions to improve health promotion behaviors in this population. Methods This cross-sectional study employed convenience sampling. Between April and October 2024, 265 middle-aged and young patients who underwent PCI were surveyed in the cardiovascular department of a Grade A tertiary hospital in Sichuan Province, China. Data collection utilized questionnaires on general information, the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Scale, the Perceived Social Support Scale, and the Fear of Disease Progression Scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0 software for descriptive analysis, univariate analysis, correlation analysis, and multivariate stratified regression analysis. Mediating effect analysis was conducted using Model 4 in the Process v4.1 plugin. Results The mean health-promoting behaviors score among middle-aged and young patients after PCI was (88.09 ± 9.98) points. Correlation analysis revealed that perceived social support was negatively correlated with fear of disease progression ( r = −0.478, p < 0.01) and positively correlated with health-promoting behaviors ( r = 0.715, p < 0.01). Fear of disease progression was negatively correlated with health-promoting behaviors ( r = −0.610, p < 0.01). Mediation analysis revealed that fear of disease progression mediated the relationship between perceived social support and health-promoting behaviors, with an effect size of 0.068. This mediation accounted for 13.9% of the total effect. Conclusion There is still room for further improvement in health-promoting behaviors among middle-aged and young patients following PCI. There is a significant correlation among perceived social support, fear of disease progression, and health-promoting behaviors, with fear of disease progression partially mediating the relationship between perceived social support and health-promoting behaviors. This study elucidates the interrelationships among these three factors and their underlying mechanisms, suggesting that clinicians may develop personalized rehabilitation management plans by integrating patients’ social support status with their psychological characteristics regarding disease-related fears. This approach offers new insights for optimizing health behavior management in middle-aged and young patients following PCI.
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Li et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Coronary heart disease post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (n=265). Perceived social support (mediated by fear of disease progression) was evaluated on Health-promoting behaviors (Health-Promoting Lifestyle Scale score) mediated by fear of disease progression (Indirect effect 0.068 (13.9% of total effect 0.488); r = 0.715, 95% CI 0.032, 0.114, p=<0.001). Perceived social support positively correlated with health-promoting behaviors post-PCI (r=0.715, p<0.01), with fear of disease progression mediating 13.9% of the total effect (indirect effect 0.068).
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