Autonomic activation in response to controllable versus noncontrollable stress, anger imagery induction, and relaxation imagery was studied among 80 participants between the ages of 18 and 34 years. Participants differed in level of trait hostility and family history of cardiovascular disease. Results were obtained through power spectral analyses of electrocardiograph R-R intervals, which produced an index of autonomic nervous system activation. For both male and female populations, parasympathetic regulation was diminished during anger induction for individuals with high levels of trait hostility and having a family history of cardiovascular disease. Similar results were obtained for women during the uncontrolled stress condition. Based on family history of cardiovascular disease and trait hostility, men responded differentially to relaxation imagery induction, whereas no differences were found among females.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between spiritual experience and current health status and between spiritual experience and subjective experience of symptom interference. Symptom interference is the extent to which symptoms of physical or psychological illness limited participants' activities of daily living. Participants were 49 volunteers who were enrolled in a spiritual fitness class at a variety of denominational Christian churches in Plano, Texas. The sample ranged in age from 22 to 65 years, and 84% were women. The Index of Core Spiritual Experiences and the Medical Symptoms Checklist were administered. Current health status and symptom interference were utilized from the self-report checklist. It was predicted that Index scores would be significantly different based on participants' health status and that Index scores would correlate significantly with participants' ratings of symptom interference. Analysis indicated that Index scores were significantly higher (p = .02) for participants with no current medical diagnosis than for those currently experiencing either a life-threatening or a chronic medical or psychological disorder. Also, the percentage-bend correlation between Index scores and scores for interference of symptoms in daily life was significant ((r)Pb = -.33, p = .02). These results suggest that the report of core spiritual experiences may be related to better current health status. These findings have implications for understanding the role of spirituality in the prevention of illness and in an individual's ability to cope with illness.