Psychosocial factors as predictors of pre-surgery anxiety among patients awaiting surgery in selected hospitals in Akwa Ibom State

Abstract

Pre-surgery anxiety remains a significant psychological concern among patients scheduled for surgery, with implications for recovery, treatment outcomes, and patient compliance. In many clinical contexts, including Nigeria, the psychological preparation of patients is often overlooked, with medical professionals focusing more on physiological stability than mental readiness. This study investigated psychosocial factors as predictors of pre-surgery anxiety among patients awaiting surgery in selected hospitals in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A total of 152 in-patients (101 males [66.4%] and 51 females [33.6%]), aged 20 to 51 years (M = 39.3), were purposively selected from surgical wards of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital, Anua. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Four standardized psychological instruments were used: the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire, and the State Sub-scale of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI Y-1). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. Findings revealed that self-esteem (β = .345; p < .05), perceived social support (β = .427; p < .05), and religiosity (β = .285; p < .05) significantly and positively predicted pre-surgery anxiety. Collectively, the psychosocial variables jointly predicted pre-surgical anxiety (F(5,147) = 6.975, p < .001), accounting for a meaningful variance in anxiety levels among patients. The implications of these findings highlight the need for preoperative psychological screening and interventions that address patients’ self-perception, social environments, and religious coping mechanisms. Healthcare professionals should be trained to recognize psychosocial risk factors and integrate supportive counseling into routine pre-surgical care.