27 male coronary-bypass patients were assigned preoperatively to a roommate who was either similar or dissimilar in surgical status (preoperative vs postoperative) and in his type of operation (cardiac vs noncardiac). Results indicate that Ss who, before their operations, had a postoperative roommate were less anxious preoperatively, were more ambulatory postoperatively, and were discharged quickly than Ss who, before their operations, had a preoperative roommate. The similarity/dissimilarity of the roommate's type of operation exerted no significant effects either separately or in interaction with the similarity of the roommate's surgical status.