The Role of Spirituality on the Health Status of Older Adults

Background and Purpose:

Spirituality is an important resource for older adults in terms of an intra-psychic means of coping and adaptation with issues of daily life, loss, and death (McComick, Holder, Wetsel & Cawthon, 2001). Many studies focused on explaining importance of spirituality or religion on late life of older adults (Moberg, 2005; Richards, 2005). Some studies examined the general relationship between religiosity and subjective well-being of the elderly (Meisenhelder & Chandler, 2002; Yoon & Lee, 2004). However, little is known about impact of spirituality on the psychological and physical health status of older adults. The purpose of the pilot study is to examine the impact of spirituality on the health status of older adults in four middle states. The study can provide important information for care givers to increase the coping skills of elderly people for minimizing their health problems.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study was conducted through a convenience sampling method for older adults 65 year-old or over from 15 counties in Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Michigan. One hundred thirty-three older adults were interviewed through structured questionnaires. Each participant had an ability to understand and answer the questions. To measure various domains of health status (anxiety (Chronback's alpha(á)=.837), positive well-being (á=.760), and vitality (á=.777), the modified General Well-Being Schedule (GWBS) was used (Dupuy, 1984). To measure spirituality (spiritual experience (á=.937), values/beliefs (á=.671), spiritual coping (á=.834), and religious support (á=.672)), the modified Brief Multidimensional Measures of Religiousness/Spirituality (BMMRS) was used (Yoon & Lee, 2007). A hierarchical regression method was performed for data analyses.

Results:

The respondents ranged in age from 63 to 97 with a mean of 71.64 years. The other characteristics showed female (54.1%); Caucasian (68.2%); married (45.5%); less than high school degree/GED (19.5%); Christianity (58.3%). Regression results showed that spiritual experience was significantly related to decrease of anxiety (B=-.254, p<.05), but significantly associated with increase of positive well-being (B=.263, p<.01) and vitality (B=.251, p<.05). Social support was significantly related to decrease of anxiety (B=-.237, p<.001), but significantly associated with increase of positive well-being (B=.103, p<.001) and vitality (B=.094, p<.05). In addition, age was significantly associated with decrease of vitality (B=-.233, p<.001).

Conclusions and Implications:

This study found that spiritual experience was a significant factor to decrease the anxiety of older adults and to increase their positive well-being and vitality. Religious involvement may benefit the lives of older adults through enhancing internal psychological resources such as feelings of self-esteem and worthiness (Ellison, 1994). Religious communities can be the source of support for older adults because they can provide a sense of belonging, safety, and purpose (McInnis-Dittrich, 2005). Lack of spiritual support is regarded as potentially resulting in a sense of uselessness, meaninglessness, and hopelessness. Agencies for older adults (such as senior centers, Adult Day Health Care centers, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes) need to develop programs or services aimed at promoting religious or spiritual growth and need to increase linkages with existing community resources such as churches, synagogues, etc.