Gender Differences in Psychosocial Issues Affecting Low-Income, Underserved Patients' Ability to Manage Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract 

Research Objective

This paper examines the psychosocial challenges that interfere with low-income, underserved patients' ability to manage cardiovascular disease (CVD) and seeks to explore the differences in how men and women manifest these issues.

Study Design

We convened 33 focus group discussions with low-income, underserved heart patients in 10 U.S. communities. Using content analysis, we identified key psychosocial issues that illustrate the psychosocial barriers patients experience as they manage their illness and analyzed these issues by gender to uncover differences in coping and self-management.

Principal Findings

We identified eight factors that represent the most frequently cited psychosocial issues by participants: 1) depression; 2) fear; 3) anger; 4) disease stress; 5) financial stress; 6) social isolation; 7) burden to family and friends; and 8) social supports. For the most part, men and women characterized psychosocial problems very differently. Among the eight themes identified, four emerged as dominant themes among women participants and three emerged among male participants. One factor, depression, was a prevalent theme for both men and women.

Conclusion

This study suggests that low-income, underserved women and men experience gender-specific psychosocial problems that interfere with their ability to manage their disease. Programs and interventions to improve the psychosocial issues related to CVD, particularly for low-income underserved populations, may be more effective if they are designed to address the unique ways in which women and men experience their illnesses.