Supportive Relationships and Heart Failure

Over the past several decades, an increase in
mortality rates due to congestive heart failure has
been observed. Although previous research
highlights the importance of both supportive
relationships and depressive symptoms in predicting
a variety of physical health outcomes in this
population, less is understood about how these
variables relate to one another. Therefore, the
purpose of this book is to provide an examination of
this question. Results of the current work suggest
that depressive symptoms are a pathway through which
supportive relationships may influence physical
functioning. This study adds to the growing body of
research that has started examining the mechanisms
through which supportive relationships influence
physical health and should be especially useful to
individuals in the fields of cardiovascular
behavioral medicine and social-health psychology.

Autorentext
Nathan T. Deichert, PhD: Experimental Social-Health Psychology, Kent State University. Assistant Professor, Mount Olive College, NC.

Klappentext
Over the past several decades, an increase in mortality rates due to congestive heart failure has been observed. Although previous research highlights the importance of both supportive relationships and depressive symptoms in predicting a variety of physical health outcomes in this population, less is understood about how these variables relate to one another. Therefore, the purpose of this book is to provide an examination of this question. Results of the current work suggest that depressive symptoms are a pathway through which supportive relationships may influence physical functioning. This study adds to the growing body of research that has started examining the mechanisms through which supportive relationships influence physical health and should be especially useful to individuals in the fields of cardiovascular behavioral medicine and social-health psychology.