title: Positive expectations predict health after heart transplantation.
abstract: We explored the relations between positive expectations and adjustment, adherence, and health in cardiac transplant patients. Thirty-one patients and their nurse completed questionnaires before transplantation and at 3 times after surgery. As predicted, patients' self-reported positive expectations were generally associated with good mood, adjustment to the illness, and quality of life, even in patients who experienced health setbacks. High preoperative expectations predicted later adherence to a complex medical regimen. Positive expectations measured before the transplant predicted a substantial amount of the variance in the nurse's ratings of physical health 6 months after surgery, covarying for adherence behavior and preoperative health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90089-1061, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leedham
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Meyerowitz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muirhead
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Frist
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011788:Quality of Life; D012718:Set, Psychology