Patients' and spouses' religious problem-solving styles and their physiological health

From 55 patients after myocardial infarctions and their spouses, responses--metabolic entry and exit scores (1 to 48 mo. postinfarct) and scores on three religious problem-solving styles--showed no problem-solving styles were associated with patients' early improvement but, as time passed, scores on collaboration with God decreased as did those on deferring to God, while self-direction increased. Patients scored lower on collaboration and higher on self-direction than spouses.