Religiousness and health-related quality of life of older adults

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To examine whether religiousness mediates the relationship between sociodemographic factors, multimorbidity and health-related quality of life of older adults. METHODS:This population-based cross-sectional study is part of the Survey on Health, Well-Being, and Aging (SABE). The sample was composed by 911 older adults from Sao Paulo, SP, Southeastern Brazil. Structural equation modeling was performed to assess the mediator effect of religiousness on the relationship between selected variables and health-related quality of life of older adults, with models for men and women. The independent variables were: age, education, family functioning and multimorbidity. The outcome variable was health-related quality of life of older adults, measured by SF-12 (physical and mental components). The mediator variables were organizational, non-organizational and intrinsic religiousness. Cronbach's alpha values were: physical component = 0.85; mental component = 0.80; intrinsic religiousness = 0.89 and family APGAR (Adaptability, Partnership, Growth, Affection, and Resolve) = 0.91. RESULTS:Higher levels of organizational and intrinsic religiousness were associated with better physical and mental components. Higher education, better family functioning and fewer diseases contributed directly to improved performance in physical and mental components, regardless of religiousness. For women, organizational religiousness mediated the relationship between age and physical (β = 2.401, p < 0.01) and mental (β = 1.663, p < 0.01) components. For men, intrinsic religiousness mediated the relationship between education and mental component (β = 7.158, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS:Organizational and intrinsic religiousness had a beneficial effect on the relationship between age, education and health-related quality of life of these older adults.

Religiousity, Spirituality and Quality of Life of Elderly According to Structural Equation Modeling

“…Regarding sociodemographic variables, the present study is similar to international and national findings regarding the gender variable. 8,[19][20][21][22] The feminization of aging is a worldwide trend, related to both higher mortality among males and greater self-care practice among women. 1 Understanding the context of aging and the specificities of the elderly regarding gender has a difference in care and health care.…”

“…Regarding marital status, the data from the present study differ from a study with elderly people from France, however they are similar to those from Chilean, North American and elderly people from São Paulo and Northern Brazil. [19][20][21][22] The divergence between the literature may be related to the different ways of aging in developed and developing countries, as well as the locoregional diversities. Having a partner beyond social character can positively impact QOL and the spiritual/religious dimension of elderly people.…”

“Waiting for a miracle”: Spirituality/Religiosity in coping with sickle cell disease

“…Religion, religare, means to reconnect and establish the connection between God and men. Thus, religiosity refers to behaviors and beliefs that are associated with religion (5)(6) .…”

Adaptação transcultural do Oral Mucositis Quality of Life (OMQoL)

“…A qualidade de vida possui diversos conceitos e modelos (13)(14)(15)(16) Entende-se que qualidade de vida é um conceito subjetivo e mesmo que intuitivamente saibamos o que significa, é um termo difícil de ser definido (14). Na ausência de um conceito uniforme, Abdala et al mostraram que outros termos têm se referido à qualidade de vida, como: satisfação com a vida, bem-estar, felicidade, boa vida, valor da vida (15).…”

“…A qualidade de vida possui diversos conceitos e modelos (13)(14)(15)(16) Entende-se que qualidade de vida é um conceito subjetivo e mesmo que intuitivamente saibamos o que significa, é um termo difícil de ser definido (14). Na ausência de um conceito uniforme, Abdala et al mostraram que outros termos têm se referido à qualidade de vida, como: satisfação com a vida, bem-estar, felicidade, boa vida, valor da vida (15). Em função dessas características, e também por entender que sempre há diferenças entre a observação do profissional e a percepção dos pacientes sobre sua qualidade de vida, a mesma deve ser mensurada considerando imprescindivelmente a perspectiva do paciente (10).…”