Abstract:
The present study attempts to find the role of perceived social support, resilience, and psychological distress among cardiovascular patients. The data was collected from 320 cardiac patients from different private and government hospitals of Islamabad and Rawalpindi within the age range of 35-65. Purposive and convenient sampling was used for data collection. There were three instruments that were used to measure the variables of the current study i.e., Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPPS) for Perceived Social Support, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) for Resilience and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) for Psychological Distress. Results of the study revealed that there was a significant positive correlation between perceived social support and resilience and negative correlation with psychological distress. The results also depicted that that resilience negatively predicts depression, anxiety, and stress. There was a significant difference among male and female cardiac patients on perceived social support and resilience. There was a significant difference among employed and unemployed cardiac patients on perceived social support and resilience. There was no significant difference found between nuclear and joint family systems on perceived social support, resilience, and psychological distress. There was also no significant difference found across the levels of education on perceived social support, resilience, and psychological distress among cardiovascular patients. The current study has implications in clinical settings and for friends and family as well to provide cardiac patients with sufficient support to deal with their psychological distress and cope up with the issues. Furthermore, limitations of the study, recommendations for future research and practical implications were also discussed.
