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Published in: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine 3/2011

01-09-2011

Parental Overprotection and Heart-Focused Anxiety in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease

Authors: Lephuong Ong, Robert P. Nolan, Jane Irvine, Adrienne H. Kovacs

Published in: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 3/2011

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Abstract

Background

The care of adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) is challenging from a mental health perspective, as these patients continue to face a variety of biopsychosocial issues that may impact emotional functioning. Despite these issues, there are limited data on the psychosocial functioning of adults with CHD, and there are no data on the impact of parental overprotection on heart-focused anxiety in this patient population.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between patient recollections of parental overprotection and current heart-focused anxiety in adults with CHD.

Method

A cross-sectional sample of 190 adult patients with CHD (51% male; mean age = 32.28, SD = 11.86 years) completed validated measures of perceived parental overprotection (Parental Bonding Instrument) and heart-focused anxiety (Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire).

Results

The results indicated that perceived parental overprotection (β = 0.19, p = 0.02) and heart defect complexity (β = 0.17, p = 0.03) were significantly related to heart-focused anxiety. Contrary to hypotheses, perceived parental overprotection did not vary as a function of heart defect complexity (F (2, 169) = 0.02, p = 0.98).

Conclusion

Perceived parental overprotection and heart defect complexity are associated with heart-focused anxiety in adults with congenital heart disease. These results can inform the development of clinical interventions aimed at improving the psychosocial adjustment of this patient population.
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Metadata
Title
Parental Overprotection and Heart-Focused Anxiety in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease
Authors
Lephuong Ong
Robert P. Nolan
Jane Irvine
Adrienne H. Kovacs
Publication date
01-09-2011
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 3/2011
Print ISSN: 1070-5503
Electronic ISSN: 1532-7558
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-010-9112-y

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