Faith Factors and Internal Health Locus of Control in Patients Prior to Open-heart Surgery

Abstract

This study explored the relationships between faith factors and internal health locus of control (IHLC) beliefs. Based on a review of different relationships of perceived control, spiritual surrender and faith factors in the liberation, we assumed a multivariate association among them. Using data from two sequential interviews and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons’ Adult Cardiac Database, we tested these associations in a final sample of 202 middle-aged and older patients undergoing open-heart surgery. Primary findings from two-step multiple regression analyses supported hierarchical multi-faceted hypotheses. Greater internal control was positively associated with private prayer for coping, an event-specific, ‘vicarious’ control strategy, but negatively related to subjective religiosity, general faith measure controlling for other confounders, especially cardiac-significant ones.