Effects of faith and secular factors on locus of control in middle-aged and older cardiac patients

Abstract

The complex relationships between faith factors and health locus of control were explored. Different from general expectancy, internal control was conceptualized as event-specific self-efficacy. Both control and faith are multidimensional phenomena and affect an individual's health and wellbeing. Yet, how faith and secular factors (e.g., demographic variables) are jointly related to personal control of patients in the face of medical crises remains empirically under-examined. Based on a comprehensive review of different aspects of perceived personal control, spiritual surrender, and faith factors, we presumed a multivariate association among them. Using data from two sequential interviews and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons' Adult Cardiac Database, the study examined the association between these faith factors and different health loci of control among 224 middle-aged and older patients 1 day prior to major cardiac surgery. Primary findings from multiple regression analyses generally supported our hypotheses. Greater internal control was positively related to using private prayer for coping, an event-specific “vicarious” control strategy, but negatively related to subjective religiosity, a general faith measure, after controlling for effects of other secular factors, especially cardiac-significant ones. Several factors in the medical history affected different loci of control. Older age and minority status were associated with greater external control.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by National Institute on Aging Grant 1 RO3 AGO 15686-01, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Grant P50 AT00011, a grant from the John Templeton Foundation, and the Hartford Geriatric Faculty Scholar's Program. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of these organizations.