Demographic, cognitive and experiential predictors of presurgical anxiety

A heterogeneous sample completed a demographic survey, a measure of internal-external locus of control (I-E), the Hospital Stress Rating Scale (HSRS), and a state anxiety measure on the eve of major surgery. Three sets of variables (demographic, cognitive, and experiential) together significantly accounted for one-quarter of the variance in state anxiety. However, only the cognitive set (I-E and the HSRS) was uniquely significant, supporting the view of presurgical anxiety as a patient's response to interpretation of a life-threatening event. Higher levels of anxiety were associated with more anticipated stressful experiences, stronger beliefs that powerful others and chance influence events, and weaker beliefs that events are caused by one's own efforts. Implications are presented for identifying patients at risk for presurgical anxiety and for designing interventions to enhance the patient's sense of control.