| Abstract: | Used a quantitative approach to identify factors relating to emotional adjustment in 84 13-82 yr old dying patients. 11 hospital chaplains collected data by interviewing the patients. Results indicate that emotional adjustment to the awareness of a limited life expectancy was not related principally to religious orientation, although this was an important factor. Emotional adjustment was influenced more by the patient's physical condition (level of discomfort), by previous experiences with dying persons, and by interpersonal relationships. The most important aspect of the religious variable was the quality of religious orientation rather than mere religious affiliation or verbal acceptance of religious beliefs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
