Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to describe demographic characteristics of patients who may use religion as a coping response to a first-time cardiac event.
METHODS: Patients (N = 105), who were enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation after a first-time myocardial infarction or coronary artery revascularization bypass surgery, completed the Religious Coping Activities Scale. Independent variables included age, gender, religious affiliation, diagnosis, marital status, and education level. The 6 types of religious coping activities were compared for each level of the independent variables.
RESULTS: Significant differences emerged for gender, religious affiliation, marital status, and level of education. Women scored higher than men on spiritually based activities (T = 1550, P = .03), good deeds (T = 1504, P = .08), and religious avoidance coping (T = 1505, P = .08). Participants who claimed no religious affiliation scored lowest on good deeds (H[2] = 9.7, P = .008) and interpersonal religious support coping (H[2] = 13.4, P = .001) and higher on discontent coping (H[2] = 5.4, P = .07). Single participants scored higher on spiritually based coping than did married participants (T = 1251, P = .04) and lower on discontent coping (H[1] = 4.3, P = .04). Plead coping was an inverse function of education (H[3] = 6.8, P = .08).
CONCLUSIONS: Patients beginning cardiac rehabilitation, particularly those with the demographic characteristics discussed in this study, may benefit from assessment of their desire for pastoral intervention.