Spiritual support and psychological well-being: Older adults' perceptions of the religion and health connection

Context . A growing body of literature suggests that religion and spiritual ity can help older adults to maintain and recover both physical and mental health. Objective . To better understand how older adults perceive the role played by religious belief and activity in maintaining and recovering health and t o explore the hypothesis that spiritual support contributes to increased se nse of coherence and enhanced psychological well-being. Design . Qualitative research (ie,focus groups and interviews). Setting . Two continuing care retirement communities. Participants . A total of 41 male and female residents aged 66 to 92 years. Main Outcome Measures . Concepts were identified and tracked leading to hyp othesis generation and theory refinement. Results . Most of the older adults in this study believed that a higher pow er (ie, God) supports them constantly, protecting, guiding, teaching, helpi ng, and healing. They believe that prayer can heal both physical and mental illness, if it is God's will to do so. God is perceived to work through th e mundane world (eg, through physicians, medicine, loving friends, and help ful strangers). Many expressed the belief that having a relationship with G od forms the foundation of their psychological well-being. Conclusion . These preliminary findings suggest that religious belief may h ave a significant influence on the psychological wellbeing of older adults, and that the subjective experience of spiritual support may form the core oft he spirituality-health connection.