Relationship Between Posttraumatic Growth and Meaning in Life Among Patients with Myocardial Infarction

A great number of people who have survived after stressful events experience positive psychological changes. Thesepositive changes are recognized as posttraumatic growth. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between posttraumatic growth,meaning in lifein patients with myocardial infarction. This is a descriptive correlational study conducted on 191 patients referring to the largest cardiology center (Bu-Ali Sina)in Qazvin,Iran. The sample was selected through a convenience sampling method based on the inclusion criteria. The data werecollected using a demographic questionnaire,the posttraumatic growth inventory,and the meaning in life questionnaire. Datawere analyzed with descriptive analysis. Inferential statistics (Pearson’s test) were used to evaluate the relationship between posttraumaticgrowth,meaning in life. The sample included 49 (25.7%) women,142 (74.3%) men with the mean age of 59.61.2 years. The mean total score ofposttraumatic growth was 64.611.5,the mean total score of meaning in life was 496.04. Based on the results,there was asignificant positive correlation between posttraumatic growth,meaning in life (r,0.71,P < 0.001). The occurrence of myocardial infarction can lead to some positive psychological changes called posttraumaticgrowth. Nurses,informal caregivers,and policymakers can use these findings to help patients cope with challenging conditionsafter myocardial infarction.