Abstract 155: The Relationship Between Positive Psychology Factors and Quality of Life in Long-Term Cardiac Arrest Survivors

Introduction: There is a need to identify factors that can improve quality of life (QoL) post-CA. Long-term CA survivors (i.e., > 1 year) have recommended utilizing positive psychology factors (i.e., psychological strengths that foster well-being) such as mindfulness, existential well-being, and resilient coping to manage survivorship challenges. We explored associations between these factors and QoL.

Hypothesis: Higher levels of mindfulness, existential well-being, and resilient coping will be individually associated with better physical, psychological, and social QoL.

Goal: Identify factors associated with improved QoL, that may become intervention targets.

Methods: Secondary analysis of survey data of long-term CA survivors from the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation. We examined demographic covariates (sex, months since arrest, age, income), self-reported daily memory problems, functional dependence (Lawton Independent Activities of Daily Living Scale), emotional distress (PTSD Checklist-5, Patient Health Questionnaire-4), and positive psychology factors (mindfulness [Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised], existential well-being [Meaning in Life Questionnaire Presence of Meaning subscale], and resilient coping [Brief Resilient Coping Scale]). We used the WHOQOL-BREF to measure psychological, physical, and social QoL. We conducted 9 multiple regression models to test the individual relationship between each positive psychology factor and each QoL domain, adjusted for demographic covariates, functional dependence, daily memory problems, and emotional distress.

Results: We included 129 long-term CA survivors (mean age: 52 years, 52% male, 98% white). In adjusted models, higher mindfulness and resilient coping were associated with better QoL in all domains (βs: 0.19 - 0.56, p < 0.03, R ² = 0.35 - 0.74); existential well-being was associated with better psychological and social QoL (βs: 0.27- 0.36, p = 0.001, R ² = 0.4 - 0.72).

Conclusion(s): Greater levels of positive psychology factors were associated with better QoL, even after accounting for emotional, cognitive, and functional sequelae. Future interventions should consider teaching these positive psychology factors to CA survivors.