[Social support and negative emotion in parents of children with congenital heart disease before operation].

OBJECTIVE To explore the relationship between social support and negative emotion in parents of children with congenital heart disease before the operation. METHODS Social support rating scale (SSRS), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and Center for epidemiological survey-depression scale (CES-D) were used to assess the association between social support and anxiety and depression in 226 parents. RESULTS The mean SSRS score was significantly lower than the normal. There was significant difference in social support of parents in monthly family earning and knowledge about surgery. Parents with monthly family income≤1000 yuan had lower scores than the other groups. Parents who knew nothing about the surgery approach had lower scores. Social support was significantly correlated to negative emotion (anxiety and depression). Social support could predict anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION Social support is widely and significantly correlated to negative emotion in parents of children with congenital heart disease before the surgery.