Religion, spirituality, and psychological distress in cardiovascular disease

In recent years, mounting evidence has pointed to a relationship between religion, spirituality, and health. This has been especially notable in individuals with cardiovascular disease. While religion and spirituality have been studied in various ways with this disease group, a multidimensional approach to measuring religion and spirituality has yet to occur. This study implemented a multidimensional measure of religious and spiritual constructs with a sample of cardiac patients in a cross-sectional study of religion and spirituality, psychological distress risk factors, and health status. Results indicated significant associations between religious support and both depression and anxiety, as well as between organized religiousness and systolic blood pressure. Other religious/spiritual variables of religious preference, history, private religious practices, forgiveness, and commitment were implicated in the results, along with contrasts involving age, race, employment, and marital status. The results of this study lend support to previous research that has highlighted the significance of religious attendance and religious social support as indicators of better cardiovascular health.Ph.D., Clinical Psychology -- Drexel University, 200