Effect of social support on illness perception in patients with atrial fibrillation during "Blanking Period": Mediating role of sense of mastery.

Aim: To explore whether sense of mastery can mediate the relationship between social support and illness perception in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who were at the "Blanking Period."

Design: A cross-sectional design.

Methods: 405 patients with AF who were at the "Blanking Period" in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University were recruited; they completed a set of questionnaires, including the Perceived Social Support Scale, the Personal Mastery Scale and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire.