Social support, depression, and activities of daily living in older heart surgery patients.

A theoretical model that specifies relationships among depression, ADL impairment, and social support components was tested using 147 patients age 55 and older undergoing open heart surgery for angina pectoris or aortic stenosis. Patients completed interviews and self-reports before surgery and one and 6 months after surgery. The longitudinal data were analyzed using covariance structure modeling techniques. Consistent with an initially theorized structural model, the number of close network members seen regularly before surgery was associated with perceived adequacy of support one month after surgery. In turn, perceived adequacy of support one month after surgery predicted less depression and less ADL impairment at 6 months. The number of close network members seen regularly was also directly associated with less ADL at one month and less depression at 6 months after surgery.