social relations in women with coronary heart disease: the effects of work and marital stress

Background Studies have previously shown that psychosocial stress, related to both work and family, is associated with the increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to examine how social relations are affected by marital stress and work stress in a population-based sample of Swedish women with CHD.Method Data was obtained from the Stockholm Female Coronary Risk Study, comprising 292 women aged 65 years or younger, with a mean age of 56 (SD = 7) years admitted for an acute event of CHD and examined 3-6 months after hospitalization. Marital and work stress was assessed using the Stockholm Marital Stress Scale and the Swedish version of the Karasek demand-control questionnaire, respectively. Condensed versions of the Interview Schedule for Social Interaction (ISSI) and of Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL) were used to assess social relations and social support.Results Marital stress was associated with less social integration (P<0.001),...