Daily spiritual experiences of older adults with and without arthritis and the relationship to health outcomes

Abstract

Objective. Strategies to improve coping with chronic disease are increasingly important, especially with the aging US population. For many, spirituality serves as a source of strength and comfort. However, little is known about the prevalence of daily spiritual experiences (DSE) and how they may relate to physical and mental health. Methods. We surveyed older adults age >50 years with chronic health conditions seen in a primary care setting about their DSE, health perceptions, pain, energy, and depression. Results. Of 99 patients, 80% reported DSE most days and many times per day. Women had significantly lower DSE scores than men (reflecting more frequent DSE, mean ؎ SD 37.3 ؎ 15.0 versus 45.8 ؎ 17.5; P ‫؍‬ 0.012). African American women reported the most frequent DSE and white men reported the least frequent DSE (mean ؎ SD 35.9 ؎ 13.6 versus 52.2 ؎ 19.1). Frequent DSE were significantly associated with a higher number of comorbid conditions (P ‫؍‬ 0.003), although not with age, education, or employment status. Persons with arthritis reported significantly more DSE than those without arthritis (mean ؎ SD 35.2 ؎ 12.1 versus 47.1 ؎ 18.6; P < 0.001). After adjustment for age, race, sex, pain, and comorbid conditions, more frequent DSE were associated with increased energy (P < 0.009) and less depression (P < 0.007) in patients with arthritis. Conclusion. DSE are common among older adults, especially those with arthritis. Increased DSE may be associated with more energy and less depression. DSE may represent one pathway through which spirituality influences mental health in older adults.

Adaptação cultural e validação da Underwood's Daily Spiritual Experience Scale - versão brasileira

“…The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.91 demonstrates the internal consistency of the Brazilian version of the DSES. This result is comparable to those reported in several other studies involving different population types, in which the alpha coefficient was always above 0.90 (8,11,(17)(18)(19)(20) .…”

Calidad de Vida Relacionada con la Salud y Factores Psicológicos: Un Estudio desde la Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica - EPOC

“…Para estos pacientes es también muy importante el ser miembro de un grupo guía que comparta las mismas creencias y practicas religiosas/espirituales como medio de apoyo social y que brinde ayuda y aprobación o consuelo en momentos de difi cultad como estrategia de afrontamiento para sobrellevar la enfermedad como se ve refl ejado en las correlaciones, donde hubo relaciones positivas pero más bien débiles entre apoyo social religioso y la salud mental del MOS SF-36. El resultado de este estudio es afín a lo informado en otras investigaciones con enfermos crónicos (Harvey & Silverman, 2007;McCauley, Tarpley, Haaz & Bartlett, 2008). Es de anotar además que los pacientes del estudio forman parte de un mismo contexto cultural "la subcultura andina de la montaña" también llamada "cultura paisa" que basa sus principios en "los valores tradicionales de la familia, la religión como pilar central, la unidad grupal, el trabajo duro y la afi liación" (Gutiérrez de Pineda, 1999).…”

The Daily Spiritual Experience Scale: Overview and Results

“…In arthritic older adults, DSE's were more common in those with arthritis, but not with other chronic diseases such as high blood pressure [41]. In a few studies no links between DSE's and specific health outcomes were found.…”

“…No link was found to survival or re-infarction, however higher DSE correlated with less depression [67]. In a group of arthritis patients, higher DSE was correlated with more energy and less depression [41]. Mofidi et al found a relationship of more DSE's to less depression in 630 adults, an association moderated by age and stress [68].…”