Illness perception, Depression, Anxiety and Stress in patients with Myocardial infarction

Author: Qandeel Asif

Supervisor: Humaira Naz

Degree: BS

Year: 2009-2013

University: Institute of Applied Psychology, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

The present study was aimed to investigate the relationship between Illness perception, Depression, Anxiety and Stress in patients with Myocardial infarction (MI). It was hypothesized that patients with negative illness perception would report high symptoms of Depression, Anxiety and Stress. Secondly, Depression, Anxiety and Stress are predictors of Illness perception in MI and lastly, men and women scored differently on illness perception, Depression, Anxiety and Stress. The purposive sampling strategy was conducted on 100 MI patients (66 men and 34 women) age ranged between 25 – 65 years (M = 48.75, SD = 12.89) were approached on admission to two hospitals. Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ–R: Moss-Moris, Morris, Petrie & Weinman, 2002) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS: Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995) were administrated on the participants to assess their illness beliefs and symptoms of Depression, Anxiety and Stress, respectively. Correlation analysis showed significant relationship between Illness perception, Depression, Anxiety and Stress in MI. Step wise regression analysis showed that Consequences, Personal control, Emotional representation components of Illness Perception were strong predictors of Depression, Anxiety and Stress in MI patients. It was also found that women perceived more negative illness perception and scored high on Depression and Anxiety while men scored high on positive illness perception. It was implicated management plan can be tailored made while focusing on the improvement of negative illness beliefs in order to help patient alleviate their illness related distress.

Keywords: Illness perception, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Myocardial Infarction.

Visit University to get the full thesis.

Corresponding Address: Department of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Email: chairperson@appsy.pu.edu.pk, Phone: 92-42-9231245