patients over the age of 55 with moderately severe medical illness. Although, the

participants were of different ages and diverse life event stressors, a positive pattern of

religious coping was found among the three groups. Those participants with positive

religious coping patterns had less psychological anxiety and distress. Those individuals

with negative religious coping were associated with greater emotional distress, e.g.

depression, and reported poorer quality of life. Pargament and colleagues (1990),

extended their religious coping research to more clearly identify the kinds of religious

beliefs, and behaviors that are helpful to individuals as they cope with negative life

events like death, illness, divorce and work related problems. Four separate themes of

religious beliefs and behaviors emerged to further define spiritual beliefs and practice: 1)

belief in a fair and loving God; 2) partnership with God is supportive; 3) positive

outcomes come from using of religious rituals; and 4) search for spiritual and personal

support through religious affiliation. Pargament, et al. (1990) explains nonreligious

avoidance with descriptor items from personal narratives such as "tried not to think about

it," "wished the situation would go away" (p. 818).

 Using retrospective demographic data collection, early research that focused on

religious affiliation and health status demonstrated positive relationships between

religious affiliation and various health correlates, such as hypertension control,

depression, anxiety, length of hospital stay and mortality (Koenig, et al. 1993; 1998;

Koenig & Larson, 1998; Meador, et al. 1992). In a review of 20 empirical studies, Levin

& Vanderpool (1990) concluded that religion is therapeutically beneficial in the control

of hypertension. Koenig, et al. (1998) investigated the relationship of religious activities

and blood pressure control among older adults dwelling in communities. They concluded