Depression is common among individuals recovering from a heart attack.
This suggests that high levels of support may protect patients from the negative effects of depression and positively influence their prognosis. Social support and depression have both been shown in other studies to influence survival from heart disease. However, this is the first study to examine the effects of these variables in combination after a heart attack, the researchers report. Strong social support is defined as having a number of close friends, as well as having regular contact, either by phone or in person, with both friends and family members. People who are married or live with others are also more likely to have strong social support, says Frasure-Smith.