title: Illness cognitions as a pathway between religiousness and subjective health in chronic cardiac patients.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the role of illness cognitions as a possible pathway between religiousness and subjective health in chronic illness. A sample of 135 chronic cardiac patients completed questionnaires about intrinsic religiousness, frequency of church service attendance, basic illness cognitions (i.e., helplessness, illness acceptance, perceived benefits), and physical and emotional well-being. According to the results, religiousness was significantly associated with subjective health. However, this relationship was indirect, with helplessness and illness acceptance serving as mediators between intrinsic religiousness and health. This finding is significant for understanding the complex relation of religiousness to chronic patients' well-being.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Crete, 74100 Gallos, Rethymnon, Greece. karademas@psy.soc.uoc.gr
authors.forename: Evangelos C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Karademas
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000523:psychology*; D006380:Helplessness, Learned; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000523:psychology*; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012803:Sick Role