Two points: "A core value shared by many religious traditions is surrendering to God, which discourages overassertion of personal control in a bond to the divine,"... and "They found a strong link between religiosity and the ability to feel in control, and ..."
Isn't there a logical inconsistency between the two claims? Also, aren't the results of such studies illustrating a possible placebo effect? (OK. A third point.) It is often said that there are no atheists in foxholes. Wouldn't it be likely that to the extent that is true of foxholes, it is also true of cardiac wards (especially, in ICUs) and before major surgery? That sort of experience, it seems to me, would be likely to produce a change in thinking -- on a "just in case" basis, if nothing else. The religious position described is not exactly a totally new idea to most of us, after all. Jim Guinee wrote: > Remember, I don't get too excited about links between religiosity and > health. People who becomes religious for the extrinsic reward will > find a shallow religion. > > But I do get a little excited :) > > Jim Guinee > > --- > > "Religious faith shortens hospital stays, aids recovery" > NewsRx.com - November 18, 2004 > > Religious faith and the power of prayer gives people confidence, hope, > optimism and sense of control over ailments and other issues in life, > according to a new University of Michigan (U-M) study of patients > undergoing open-heart surgery. > > The study of 224 cardiac patients, conducted over a 19-month period at the > U-M Medical Center, is detailed in two papers, one in the Journal of > Health Psychology and the other set to appear in an upcoming issue of the > journal Aging and Mental Health. > > "A core value shared by many religious traditions is surrendering to God, > which discourages overassertion of personal control in a bond to the > divine," said U-M researcher of integrative medicine Amy Ai, who also > holds a University of Washington appointment. > > Ai and her colleagues in U-M's psychology and cardiac surgery departments > are pioneers in the new field of positive psychology, linking optimal > expectation with faith. Their previous research in 1998 found most cardiac > patients prayed to help cope with heart surgeries and procedures, which > was related to lower levels of postoperative stress 1 year later. Their > recent research aims at identifying the mechanism of the faith effect on > health-related well-being. > > Cardiovascular diseases and stroke cost the U.S. economy more than $351.8 > billion in 2003, with heart disease remaining the No. 1 killer of > Americans, Ai said. The number of cardiovascular operations and procedures > performed each year has grown 400% over the past 2 decades, she added. > > Researchers measured the patients for their prayer coping and religiosity, > cardiac status, general health and mental health, their level of > depression, social support and socio-demographic factors. > > They found a strong link between religiosity and the ability to feel in > control, and also found a dependence of believers on the spiritual support > of a higher power in their regular life > > "The day before a major cardiac procedure, an uncontrollable event, is a > life-altering moment," Ai said. "The fact that the surgical and medical > team would determine the immediate outcomes provides an intriguing window > into the positive attitudes such as hope, optimism, and perceived control > and faith of cardiac patients" (Ai AL, Peterson C, Tice TN, Faith-based > and secular pathways to hope and optimism subconstructs in middle-aged and > older cardiac patients. J Health Psychol, 2004;9(3):435-50). > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- ----------==========>>>>>>>>>> ��� <<<<<<<<<<==========---------- Sometimes you just have to try something, and see what happens. John W. Nichols, M.A. Assistant Professor of Psychology Tulsa Community College 909 S. Boston Ave., Tulsa, OK 74119 (918) 595-7134 Home: http://www.tulsa.oklahoma.net/~jnichols MegaPsych: http://www.tulsa.oklahoma.net/~jnichols/megapsych.html --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
