title: The role of religious faith, spirituality and existential considerations among heart patients in a secular society: relation to depressive symptoms 6 months post acute coronary syndrome.
abstract: We explored the significance of religious faith/coping and spirituality and existential considerations reported during hospitalisation on depressive symptoms at 6-month follow-up and addressed patients' perceived influence of their faith among 97 consecutive acute coronary syndrome patients (72.2% male patients; mean age, 60.6 years) in a secular society. All faith variables were found unrelated to depressive symptoms. Having unambiguous religious or spiritual faith at follow-up was associated with a perceived positive influence of this faith on quality of life and the disease itself compared to patients with ambiguous faith. These findings underscore the importance of examining degrees of faith in secular settings.
authors.affiliation: Aarhus University, Denmark sidsel@psy.au.dk.
authors.forename: Sidsel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bekke-Hansen
authors.affiliation: Aarhus University, Denmark Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: Christina G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.affiliation: Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thygesen
authors.affiliation: Aarhus University, Denmark Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.affiliation: Palo Alto University, USA.
authors.forename: Lynn C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Waelde
authors.affiliation: Aarhus University, Denmark Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zachariae
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003718:Denmark; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: coping; coronary heart disease; depression; religion; spirituality