POSITIVE EXPECTATIONS PREDICT HEALTH AFTER HEART-TRANSPLANTATION

We explored the relations between positive expectations and adjustment , adherence, and health in cardiac transplant patients. Thirty-one pat ients and their nurse completed questionnaires before transplantation and at 3 times after surgery. As predicted, patients' self-reported po sitive expectations were generally associated with good mood, adjustme nt to the illness, and quality of life, even in patients who experienc ed health setbacks. High preoperative expectations predicted later adh erence to a complex medical regimen. Positive expectations measured be fore the transplant predicted a substantial amount of the variance in the nurse's ratings of physical health 6 months after surgery, covaryi ng for adherence behavior and preoperative health.