Psychosomatic Medicine 34:345-354 (1972)
© 1972 American Psychosomatic Society

Delay of Surgery

¹ Psychology Service, Veterans Administration Hospital, Wadsworth, Los Angeles, Calif 90073

Address for reprint requests: J. Andrew, PhD, Hemet Valley Hospital Community Mental Health Clinic, 1116 E. Latham Street, Hemet, Calif 92343.

Faced with the stress of suffering an inguinal hernia, some patients delay surgery longer than others do. Two personality measures (and one demographic variable, race) were used to predict both a) delay of surgery and b) reasons given for electing surgery now. Several controversies in coping style and internal-external control theory were explored, and applications were suggested for public health problems.