Pessimistic explanatory style and cardiac health: What is the relation and the mechanism that links them?

This study examined the relation between pessimistic explanatory style and cardiac health among a sample of cardiovascular disease patients participating in cardiac rehabilitation programs. Data were collected from 72 patients at the beginning and end of their cardiac rehabilitation programs. Participants completed questionnaires assessing explanatory style, depressive symptoms, and subjective appraisals of cardiac health. Objective indicators of cardiovascular health were collected from participants' medical files. Results showed that the stable dimension of pessimistic explanatory style had a direct and negative effect on self-reported cardiac health appraisals over the course of cardiac rehabilitation. Although there was support for partial mediation cross-sectionally, findings did not support prospective mediation by depressive symptoms for the relation between pessimistic explanatory style and cardiac health appraisals.