The purpose of this study was threefold: to examine the coping processes of patients prior to and after the stressful event of cardiac surgery; to explore the relationships between coping and the emotional response in patients prior to and after the stressful event of cardiac surgery; and to examine preoperative coping and emotional response and their relationship with postoperative emotional response.

One hundred and twenty men and women, aged 35 to 70, undergoing cardiac surgery for the first time completed the Patient Demographic Sheet, the Revised Ways of Coping Checklist (WCCL), and the Profile of Mood States (POMS) before surgery and on the fifth postoperative day. Clinical information about the participants' past medical and surgical history was obtained from the hospital record before surgery and data about the surgical and postoperative course were obtained on the fifth postoperative day.

Results of this study indicate that the participants had significant differences in both coping and emotional response prior to and following cardiac surgery. There were significant decreases in the use of Seeks Social Support Coping, Blamed Self Coping, and Wishful Thinking Coping following the surgical experience. The mood states of tension, anger, and vigor decreased significantly following surgery while fatigue increased. There is a positive relationship between preoperative Seeks Social Support Coping, Problem-Focused Coping, Wishful Thinking Coping, Blamed Self Coping, and Avoidance Coping and the preoperative emotional response. There is a positive relationship between Wishful Thinking Coping, Blamed Self Coping, and Avoidance Coping and the postoperative emotional response. The preoperative emotional response was found to be the best independent predictor of the postoperative emotional response.

Ancillary analyses revealed that participants who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery did not differ from those participants who underwent valvular heart surgery in either their coping with or emotional response to the cardiac surgery.

Age was significantly correlated with preoperative tension. There were no significant differences between males and females in the way they coped with the surgical experience. Female participants were more confused and had more emotional distress than their male counterparts.