Spiritual belief, social support, physical functioning and depression among older people in Bulgaria and Romania

Abstract

Objectives:An exploratory investigation is reported into the role of spirituality and religious practice in protecting against depression among older people living in rural villages in Bulgaria and Romania, two neighbouring countries with similar cultural, political and religious histories, but with differing levels of current religiosity. Methods:In both countries interviews were conducted with samples of 160 persons of 60 years and over in villages of similar socio-economic status. The HAD-D scale and the Royal Free Interview for Religious and Spiritual Beliefs were used to assess depression and spiritual belief and practice respectively. In addition social support, physical functioning and the presence of chronic diseases were assessed. One year later follow-up interviews were conducted with 58 of the original sample in Bulgaria, in which additional measures of depression and of spiritual belief and practice were also included. Results:The study demonstrates, as expected, significantly lower levels of spiritual belief in the Bulgarian sample, as well as significantly higher levels of depression, the latter attributable in large part to higher morbidity and disability rates, but less evidently to differences in strength of belief. However analyses from both the cross-sectional study and the one year follow-up of the Bulgarian sample do suggest that spiritual belief and practice both influence and reflect physical and mental illness. Conclusions:Religious and spiritual belief and practice constitute important means of coping with both physical and mental health problems in later life. Further investigation of their protective role is encouraged in populations of diverse religiosity.

Ajuste psicológico y vida religiosa en Adultos Mayores

“…Se ha señalado que cuando las personas atraviesan por intensas situaciones críticas en su vida, suelen recurrir también con mayor frecuencia a Dios y a ciertas conductas religiosas como la oración (Coleman et al, 2011;Kelley & Chan, 2012) y, al parecer, estos recursos han resultado ser eficaces; el afrontamiento religioso ha sido reconocido como un importante recurso adaptativo (Pargament, 1997citado por McConnell, Pargament, Ellison & Flannelly, 2006. Distintos investigadores han reportado que la vida espiritual suele generar efectos positivos en enfermos crónicos, en casos de depresión (Cotton Larking, Hoopes, Cromer & Rosenthal, 2005;Sorajjakool, Aja, Chilson, Ramirez-Jhonson & Earll, 2008), VIH (Ironson, Stuetzle & Fletcher, 2006), cáncer (McCoubrie & Davis, 2006), entre otros padecimientos.…”

“…Se ha señalado (Coleman et al, 2011) que entre los recursos con los que cuenta la adultez mayor para afrontar el estrés y las pérdidas de esta etapa de la vida se encuentran las creencias y prácticas religiosas y espirituales, pero también se ha insistido en los hallazgos de diversos estudios con correlaciones menores aunque significativas entre estas y sus efectos.…”

Mood and anxiety disorders across the adult lifespan: a European perspective

“…In Romania there is a lack of active ageing strategies and older adults retire early, face feelings of futility and have low levels of social engagement. Mental illness in Bulgaria has been described as 'an irreversible condition, which strips the sufferer of all their mental faculties' (Coleman et al 2011). The relatively low levels of mental disorders among the youngest adults here may be genuine or a reflection of stigma or low mental health literacy.…”

Can Healthy Lifestyle Modify Risk Factors for Dementia? Findings from a Pilot Community-Based Survey in Chennai (India) and Newcastle (UK)

“…This may be related to the overall lifestyle of the Chennai citizens, with the high level of religious/spiritual beliefs positively influencing both psychosocial [52] and physical well-being [53]. Similarly, the long-term exercise undertaken by the Chennai citizens may contribute to the overall better self-reported health status [54].…”