The association of positive psychological factors with work ability one year after myocardial infarction

Background Positive psychological factors like optimism, resilience and self-efficacy may facilitate successful adjustment after hospitalization for myocardial infarction (MI) and treatment with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), including return to work. Objective To examine whether positive psychological factors (optimism, resilience, and self-efficacy) predict work ability one year after PCI for MI. Methods Patients treated with PCI and with paid employment were included and completed questionnaires at 1 and 12 months post PCI discharge. Patients filled out the LOT-R optimism scale, the dispositional resilience scale (DRS-15), and the Cardiac Self-efficacy Scale (CSE) at 1-month, and the work ability index (WAI) at 1-year follow-up. Hierarchical linear regression models were used. Sensitivity analysis was performed for the acuteness of the PCI treatment. Results In total, 323 patients (14% women; mean age 59.5 ± 6.8y; 74% acute PCI) completed both surveys. At 1-year follow-up, resilience (β = 0.152, p = 0.009) and cardiac self-efficacy (β = 0.273, p < 0.001), but not optimism (β = 0.044, p = 0.432), were associated with work ability at 1 year, irrespective of cardiac history, or sex. Age (β = −0.158, p = 0.002) and comorbidity index (β = −0.104, p = 0.044) were significant covariates. Sensitivity analysis revealed that in patients receiving an elective Conclusion Resilience and cardiac self-efficacy were independently associated with work ability 1 year post PCI, whereas optimism was not. Identification and support of patients low in cardiac self-efficacy and resilience may contribute to improved restoration of work ability post PCI