OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the relationship of coping style with quality of life (QoL) among women with congestive heart failure (CHF), and the role of illness knowledge in this relationship. METHODS: Thirty-five women with CHF completed measures of coping style (anger-in, alexithymia, and emotional expression), illness knowledge, and emotional/physical QoL. RESULTS: Symptoms of depression and anxiety were positively associated with anger-in (P < .001) and alexithymia (P < .01), and were negatively correlated with emotional expression (P=.05). Furthermore, illness knowledge moderated the relationship between anger-in and depressive symptoms (P=.01), such that high anger-in individuals with greater illness knowledge displayed greater depressive symptoms. Knowledge also moderated the relationship between emotional expression and anxiety (P=.02), indicating that low emotional expression was associated with greater anxiety among those with less illness knowledge. Depressive and anxiety symptoms, anger-in, alexithymia, and emotional expression were not correlated with physical QoL. CONCLUSION: Illness knowledge is associated with poorer emotional QoL among those using denial-based coping styles, but a better QoL among those avoiding communication of their emotions.
OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the relationship of coping style with quality of life (QoL) among women with congestive heart failure (CHF), and the role of illness knowledge in this relationship. METHODS: Thirty-five women with CHF completed measures of coping style (anger-in, alexithymia, and emotional expression), illness knowledge, and emotional/physical QoL. RESULTS: Symptoms of depression and anxiety were positively associated with anger-in (P < .001) and alexithymia (P < .01), and were negatively correlated with emotional expression (P=.05). Furthermore, illness knowledge moderated the relationship between anger-in and depressive symptoms (P=.01), such that high anger-in individuals with greater illness knowledge displayed greater depressive symptoms. Knowledge also moderated the relationship between emotional expression and anxiety (P=.02), indicating that low emotional expression was associated with greater anxiety among those with less illness knowledge. Depressive and anxiety symptoms, anger-in, alexithymia, and emotional expression were not correlated with physical QoL. CONCLUSION: Illness knowledge is associated with poorer emotional QoL among those using denial-based coping styles, but a better QoL among those avoiding communication of their emotions.