Objective To investigate the current situation of learned helplessness in young and middle-aged patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), analyze its influencing factors, and provide a basis for formulating targeted psychological intervention plans.

Methods A total of 207 young and middle-aged AMI patients were conveniently selected as the research subjects. The assessment was conducted using the general information questionnaire, Learned Helplessness Scale, Social Support Rating Scale and Medical Coping Style Questionnaire. One-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear stepwise regression analysis were used to analyze the influencing factors of learned helplessness in young and middle-aged AMI patients.

Results The total score of learned helplessness in 207 young and middle-aged AMI patients was (58.29 ± 9.30) points, which was at a moderately high level. The results of univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in the scores of learned helplessness among female, and patients with different age, educational level, per capita monthly income of the family, cardiac function classification, primary caregivers and more complications (P ＜ 0.05). The results of relevant analysis showed that the total score of learned helplessness was negatively correlated with the total score of social support and score of each dimension (P ＜ 0.01), that was, the higher the level of social support, the lower the sense of helplessness. It was positively correlated with the yielding coping style (P ＜ 0.01), and negatively correlated with the confrontational coping style (P ＜ 0.01). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that the the high cardiac function classification (β = 0.043), high yield coping score (β = 0.345) and a large number of complications (β = 0.084) might be the independent risk factors of learned helplessness. The high score of social support level (β = –0.421) and high scores of confrontation and coping (β = –0.218) might be protective factors (P ＜ 0.05 to P ＜ 0.01), collectively explaining 46.7% of the total variation.

Conclusions Young and middle-aged AMI patients have a moderately high level of learned helplessness, and its level is jointly affected by multiple factors such as cardiac function classification, coping styles and social support. Clinically, particular attention should be paid to patients with poor cardiac function, numerous complications and submissive coping style. By strengthening the social support system and adopting positive coping strategies, a sense of helplessness can be alleviated to promote comprehensive recovery.