The Relationship between Posttraumatic Growth and Social Support in Patients with Myocardial Infarction.

The present study was conducted to examine the concept of post-traumatic growth (PTG) and its relationship with social support in patients with myocardial infarction. The study included 166 patients with myocardial infarction admitted to heart clinics in Bonab, Iran. Data were collected using the Post Traumatic Growth Inventory and the Clinical Social Support Scale. A positive, moderate relationship between social support and PTG (p<0.001; r=0.361) was found. Talking to others, providing tangible goods, and giving information about the disease may facilitate cognitive processing and adaptation, which, in turn, can lead to more PTG. Given the positive relationship between social support and PTG, nurses, families, and other sources of social support can provide emotional, instrumental and informational supports to increase positive psychological behaviours in patients with myocardial infarction.