The relationships among social support and short- and long-term recovery outcomes in men with coronary heart disease.

To determine the extent to which social support from the spouse and a health care provider (HCP) is associated with short- and long-term recovery outcomes in individuals after a cardiac illness, 93 patients were interviewed 2 months (short-term) after their event; 73 (78%) subjects responded to a follow-up questionnaire 1 year later (long-term). Tangible aid from the spouse was associated with better short-term psychological recovery. Satisfaction with and more emotional support from the spouse were associated with better short- and long-term psychological recovery outcomes. Greater satisfaction with HCP support was associated with patients' short- and long-term physical recoveries. These results highlight the value of different sources and types of support as having differential effects on physical and psychological recovery outcomes.