| Abstract: | Forty families of patients 60 years old and younger who had suffered from their first heart attack, drawn from five hospitals in a metropolitan area, were studied during the hospitalization, a month after discharge from hospital, and two months later. This paper explores the impact of heart disease on family functioning and examines the process of family adjustment to the crisis over a period of about four months. The impacts varied in different areas of family functioning as well as at different points in time. Family social integration was found to be the most useful resource for coping, cohesion to be of some help, and adaptability to be of little relevance. The study highlights the need for identifying, strengthening and mobilizing family social networks as part of the intervention in such crises. |
