OPTIMISM, COPING, AND LONG-TERM RECOVERY FROM CORONARY-ARTERY SURGERYIN WOMEN

Optimism, coping strategies, and psychological and functional outcomes were measured in 55 women undergoing coronary artery surgery. Data we re collected in-hospital and at 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Opt imism was related to positive moods and life satisfaction, and inverse ly related to negative moods. Few relationships were found between opt imism and functional ability. Cognitive coping strategies accounted fo r a mediating effect between optimism and negative mood. Optimists wer e more likely to accept their situation, and less likely to use escapi sm. In turn, these coping strategies were inversely related to negativ e mood and mediated the relationship between optimism and this outcome . Optimism was not related to problem-focused coping strategies; thus, these coping strategies cannot explain the relationship between optim ism and outcomes. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons.