University of Pittsburgh, 2028 Cathedral of Learning, 4200 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
Gerontologist. 2010 Dec;50(6):798-809. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnq046. Epub 2010 Jul 15.
despite the growing evidence for effects of religious factors on cardiac health in general populations, findings are not always consistent in sicker and older populations. We previously demonstrated that short-term negative outcomes (depression and anxiety) among older adults following open heart surgery are partially alleviated when patients employ prayer as part of their coping strategy. The present study examines multifaceted effects of religious factors on long-term postoperative adjustment, extending our previous findings concerning prayer and coping with cardiac disease.
analyses capitalized on a preoperative survey and medical variables from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons' National Database of patients undergoing open heart surgery. The current participants completed a mailed survey 30 months after surgery. Two hierarchical regressions were performed to evaluate the extent to which religious factors predicted depression and anxiety, after controlling for key demographics, medical indices, and mental health.
predicting lower levels of depression at the follow-up were preoperative use of prayer for coping, optimism, and hope. Predicting lower levels of anxiety at the follow-up were subjective religiousness, marital status, and hope. Predicting poorer adjustment were reverence in religious contexts, preoperative mental health symptoms, and medical comorbidity. Including optimism and hope in the model did not eliminate effects of religious factors. Several other religious factors had no long-term influences. MPLICATIONS: the influence of religious factors on the long-term postoperative adjustment is independent and complex, with mediating factors yet to be determined. Future research should investigate mechanisms underlying religion-health relations.
尽管越来越多的证据表明宗教因素对一般人群的心脏健康有影响，但在病情较重和年龄较大的人群中，研究结果并不总是一致的。我们之前的研究表明，在接受心脏直视手术后的老年患者中，短期的负面结果（抑郁和焦虑）在患者将祈祷作为应对策略的一部分时会部分减轻。本研究考察了宗教因素对长期术后调整的多方面影响，扩展了我们之前关于祈祷和应对心脏病的研究结果。
分析利用了 Society of Thoracic Surgeons' National Database 中接受心脏直视手术患者的术前调查和医学变量。目前的参与者在手术后 30 个月完成了邮寄调查。进行了两次分层回归，以评估在控制关键人口统计学、医学指数和心理健康因素后，宗教因素对抑郁和焦虑的预测程度。
预测随访时抑郁程度较低的因素包括术前使用祈祷应对、乐观和希望。预测随访时焦虑程度较低的因素包括主观宗教信仰、婚姻状况和希望。预测调整较差的因素包括宗教环境中的敬畏、术前心理健康症状和医学合并症。在模型中包括乐观和希望并没有消除宗教因素的影响。其他一些宗教因素没有长期影响。
宗教因素对长期术后调整的影响是独立而复杂的，其机制仍有待确定。未来的研究应该调查宗教与健康关系的潜在机制。
