Depression, faith-based coping, and short-term postoperative global functioning in adult and older patients...

This prospective study examined how preoperative depression and faith-based coping, assessed preoperatively and postoperatively, affected short-term postoperative global functioning (SPGF) following a major cardiac surgery.

We recruited 481 patients (male, 58%; mean age=62 years, range=35-89) 2 weeks before surgery for three sequential psychosocial interviews using standardized instruments. Of them, 426 completed the second interview, and 335 completed the postoperative follow-up.

Multiple regression analyses showed that depression predicted poor SPGF, controlling for age, preoperative illness impact, and two noncardiac chronic conditions. Preoperative positive religious coping contributed to better SPGF, controlling for preoperative depression and other confounders. However, postoperatively assessed prayer coping was associated with poor SPGF.

Research should distinguish the longitudinal protection of generally adaptive faith-based coping styles from the increased usage of such coping for immediate distress, mobilized by crisis.