'I was in control of it from the start': A qualitative study of men's experiences of positive adjustment following a heart attack. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Smith, Fran; Banwell, Elizabeth; Rakhit, Roby
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 22:Number 10(2017)
• Page Start: 1345
• Page End: 1354
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: acute illness -- coping -- myocardial infarction -- perceived control -- qualitative methods; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105315627000
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

A qualitative design was used to explore the experience of positive adjustment following a heart attack. Ten men attending a cardiac rehabilitation programme completed in-depth semi-structured interviews. An overarching theme: 'I was in control of it from the start' emerged with six subthemes, relating to intrapersonal and interpersonal factors and processes. The subthemes reflected the importance of identifying controllable versus non-controllable factors and employing adaptive coping strategies.