Goal Disturbance in Relation to Anxiety, Depression, and Health-related Quality of Life After Myocardial Infarction

Aim of this cross-sectional study, was to examine whether the sudden event of hospitalization for Myocardial Infarction (MI) would lead to a disturbance in the attainment of important higher order or life goals, and secondly, whether goal importance as well as goal disturbance would be related to emotional distress and health-related quality of life (HRQL) shortly (two to five weeks) after the MI. Respondents were 160 patients who were hospitalized for MI. Results indicate that patients experience goal disturbance as a result of their cardiac event. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that independently from demographics, medical characteristics and prior lifestyle, disturbance of important higher order goals was a powerful correlate of anxiety, depression as well as HRQL. Furthermore, the extent to which patients valued higher order goals in their life (goal importance) was an independent correlate of depression. Based on self-regulation theory, we suggest that emotional distress and lower levels of HRQL can be explained in terms of threat to goal attainment. Recommendations for further research and practical implications for rehabilitation programs were formulated.