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Cited by 188Religion, Spirituality, and PsychologyOptimism, Hope, and Well-beingWorkplace Spirituality and Leadership

Private Prayer and Optimism in Middle-Aged and Older Patients Awaiting Cardiac Surgery

Ai, Amy L., Peterson, Christopher, Bolling, Steven F., Koenig, Harold·2002·The Gerontologist
DOI 10.1093/geront/42.1.70
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Abstract

PURPOSE: This study investigated the use of private prayer among middle-aged and older patients as a way of coping with cardiac surgery and prayer's relationship to optimism. DESIGN AND METHODS: The measure of prayer included three aspects: (a) belief in the importance of private prayer, (b) faith in the efficacy of prayer on the basis of previous experiences, and (c) intention to use prayer to cope with the distress associated with surgery. The sample was 246 patients awaiting cardiac surgery. The first in-person interview was administered 2 weeks before surgery and optimism was measured the day before surgery by telephone. RESULTS: Private prayer predicted optimism, along with older age, better socioeconomic resources, and healthier affect. Neither measures of general religiosity nor any type of prayers used by patients were associated with optimism. IMPLICATIONS: Suggestions were made for clinicians to improve spiritual assessment and care, and for researchers to address spiritual coping in clinical situations.

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  • Of the six highest quality studies on R/S and hope, half found a positive relationship.

    “Of the six highest quality studies, half found a positive relationship [79–81].”

    From Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications (2012) · cites this paper as [80]

    The Predictors of Optimism section reports that intending to use private prayer for coping was positively associated with optimism in patients awaiting cardiac surgery. This supports counting the paper as a positive finding about prayer and optimism, but the paper does not assess hope or establish that three of six highest-quality studies found a positive relationship. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. Cattell, R. B., & Scheier, I. H. (1963). Handbook for the IPAT Anxiety Scale (2nd ed.). Champaign, IL: Institute for Personality and Ability Testing.
  2. Johnson, P. E. (1959). Psychology of religion. New York: Abingdon Press.
  3. In E. C. Chang (Ed.), Optimism and pessimism: Implications for the- ory, research, and practice (pp. 127-145). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
  4. Peterson, C., & De Avila, M. E. (1995). Optimistic explanatory style and the perception of health problems. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 51, 128-132.
  5. Snyder, J. (1985). Cognitive appraisal coping process, and recovery from coronary artery bypass surgery. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, The State University of New York, Albany.

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Authors
Ai, A. L., Peterson, C., Bolling, S. F., & Koenig, H.
Affiliations
  • University of Washington (US)
  • University of Michigan (US)
  • Duke University (US)
Corresponding author
Ai, Amy L.
ORCID
Venue
The Gerontologist
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2002-02-01
Volume
42
Issue
1
Pages
70-81
ISSN
  • 0016-9013 (ISSN-L)
  • 1758-5341
DOI
10.1093/geront/42.1.70
OpenAlex
W2114263594
Cited by
188
References
62
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 43 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 9
FWCI
7.58
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Gerontologist (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • John Templeton Foundation (1 RO3 AGO 15686-01, P50 AT00011)
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Aging (1R03 AGO 15686-01)
  • National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (1 RO3 AGO 15686-01)
  • National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (P50AT000011)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Workplace Spirituality and Leadership
Keywords
private prayer, optimism, cardiac surgery, middle-aged and elderly patients, spiritual coping, religiosity, spiritual assessment, socioeconomic resources, affect
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Affect, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Analysis of Variance, Female, Cardiac Surgical Procedures, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Regression Analysis, Religion and Psychology, Socioeconomic Factors, Spirituality

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