Personal mastery and quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency ablation: The mediating role of health promoting behavior

•Personal mastery was significantly associated with quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency ablation.•Health promoting behavior mediated the relationship between personal mastery and quality of life.•Targeted interventions for improving personal mastery and health promoting behavior are important ways to enhance the quality of life. Improving quality of life is vital for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency ablation. Quality of life can be affected not only by personal mastery but also by health promoting behavior as previously studied. However, it remains unclear whether health promoting behavior mediates the relationship between personal mastery and quality of life. To explore whether health promoting behavior mediates the relationship between personal mastery and quality of life in patients with AF after radiofrequency ablation. A cross-sectional design and convenience sampling were conducted at a tertiary hospital in China. Self-reported questionnaires were used to assess personal mastery, health promoting behavior and quality of life. SPSS and AMOS software were used for statistical analysis. A total of 202 patients with AF after radiofrequency ablation were enrolled (mean age 58.28 ± 12.70 years). The scores for personal mastery and quality of life were 22.52 ± 2.53 points and 62.58 ± 8.59 points, respectively, indicating a limited level. The health promoting behavior exhibited a moderate level, with scores averaging 103.82 ± 8.47 points. There was a positive correlation between the three variables (all P < 0.05). Health promoting behavior played a partial mediating role in the relationship between personal mastery and quality of life in patients with AF after radiofrequency ablation, accounting for 44.79 % of the total effect. In order to improve quality of life and prognosis, it is necessary to consider enhancing personal mastery and increasing patient compliance with health promoting behavior, which are important ways to improve their quality of life.