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.

Hope, mood states and quality of life in female heart transplant recipients

“…A similar study in the heart transplant literature documented the association of hope (or positive expectations) with good mood, adjustment to illness and QOL, even in patients who experienced health setbacks. 22 Both our study and the study by Leedham and colleagues 22 are similar to existing research, which supports that those who are hopeful experience improved psychologic well-being. Therefore, interventions that foster hope among heart transplant recipients may be the key to improved psychosocial adaptation and better QOL.…”

Gender differences in health perceptions and meaning in persons living with heart failure

“…Decreased satisfaction with one's health status and loss of control over one's life and the potential for a happy old age were also reported by previous researchers; as symptom distress and functional disability increased, health satisfaction decreased. [5][6] In contrast, optimism or positive expectations have been related to good physical health and increased compliance among patients after undergoing heart transplantation; that trait optimism was negatively associated with perioperative myocardial infarction and positively associated with rate and extent of lifestyle normalization 30 and decreased total rehospitalizations and complications after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. 31 These findings suggest that optimism has important implications for psychosocial and physical well-being and health satisfaction.…”

The motivating function of thinking about the future: Expectations versus fantasies.

“…High expectations of success were followed by compliance with the medical regimen and improved health after cardiac transplant surgery even after controlling for preoperative health status (Leedham, Meyerowitz, Muirhead, & Frist, 1995), and expectations about a positive future in general predicted recovery from coronary artery bypass surgery (Scheier & Carver, 1992;Scheier et al, 1989). Finally, high recovery-related efficacy expectations fostered mastery of various acute and chronic illnesses (Bandura, 1997), and optimistic attributional style preceded good health in the short run (C. Peterson, 1988) and over the life span (C. Peterson, Seligman, & Vaillant, 1988).…”