Poor Perceived Social Support in Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Patients and Their Partners: Cross-validation of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support

Background: Social support is a known buffer of psychological distress and has also been shown to influence adverse medical outcomes.

Objective: The authors investigated the role of social support and its correlates in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and their partners.

Method: The authors cross-validated the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) in Danish and Dutch cardiac patients and their partners and examined correlates of poor support.

Results: The three-factor structure of the MSPSS, its validity, and internal consistency were confirmed, with the test-retest reliability found to be lower than in previous studies. Being an ICD patient or an ICD partner, as compared with a chronic heart failure (CHF) patient, having no partner, and having a Type D personality were correlates of poor support, independent of anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Conclusions: The validity and reliability of the MSPSS were confirmed in a mixed group of Dutch and Danish cardiac patients and their partners. Preliminary findings indicate that ICD patients and their partners may be more in need of support than CHF patients.