The relationship between religiosity/spirituality, social support, and quality of life among elderly Chilean people

Abstract

This study analyses the association between the various dimensions of religiosity and spirituality and the different aspects of quality of life in elderly Chilean people. It also evaluates the specificity of this association with respect to social support processes. The study involved a sample of 777 elderly people living in the far north of Chile. The results obtained via hierarchical regression analysis show a specific association of spirituality with quality of life. Religiosity only presents a specific association with quality of life in terms of the relationship between support from the congregation and satisfaction with social relationships. We conclude that religiosity and spirituality should be included in social work interventions.

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.…”

“…The age group is similar to other studies by representing younger elderly. 19,20,23 Technological advances in health, associated with public policies, have contributed substantially to greater longevity. Although younger elderly were evidenced, there is a growing increase among the older elderly.…”

“…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.…”

Spirituality and Quality of Life in Older Adults: Path Analyse Model

“…There is a consensus that social support is a multidimensional concept where different dimensions have different impact on individuals. The perception of satisfaction with social support reflects on elderly` health [22] and it is an important indicator of health-related quality of life [17,20]. Older adults with lower social support reported lower health status being social support a strong predictor of mortality in elderly [21].…”

Diferencias de género en salud y calidad de vida en personas mayores del norte de Chile

“…En el caso de esta investigación nos centraremos como hemos adelantado en las condiciones de salud y la calidad de vida, ya que ambas dimensiones se vinculan con el bienestar en la vejez.La elección de estas variables se relaciona no solo con la importancia que han recibido en la bibliografía previa, sino también por sus características. En efecto, la calidad de vida es una medida multidimensional y subjetiva del bienestar o, dicho de otra forma, es una valoración integral del bienestar de los individuos en los dominios más significativos de la vida (Gallardo-Peralta, 2017). La salud es uno de los componentes más relevantes en al análisis de la calidad de vida global, que considera el funcionamiento -físico.…”