The Role of Spirituality in the Self-management of Chronic Illness among Older African and Whites

Abstract

This study used data from in-depth interviews collected from 88 African American and White men and women aged 65 years and older who reside in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The purpose of this study was to understand the role of spirituality in the self-management of chronic illness among this population. Thematic content analysis addressed two specific questions: (1) how do older adults use spirituality to help manage their chronic illness, and (2) are there any racial differences in the use of spirituality. Several core themes emerged from the linkage of spirituality and self-management: God: the healer, God: the enabler through doctors, faith in God, prayer as a mediator, spirituality as a coping mechanism, combining conventional medicine and spiritual practices, and empowering respondents to practice healthy eating habits. These results display racial differences in the use of spirituality in the self-management of chronic illness. African American elders were more likely than White elders to endorse a belief in divine intervention. White elders were more likely than African America elders to merge their spirituality in various self-management practices. Despite these differences, spirituality can play an integral part in a person's health and well-being of chronically ill elders.

The Impact of Spirituality on Health

“…In general, the results of the current review indicated remarkable effects of spirituality on health, a finding mentioned frequently in different studies (34,52,53). Numerous studies indicated that spirituality had a favorable impact on recovery, improved well-being (22,29,38,46,49), and lowered levels of depression (2,47).…”

“…In such cases, patients cope more easily with their disease, are happier and more satisfied with their lives, and feel less pain (32) due to their spiritual beliefs and religious outlooks. Other evidence has shown that spirituality plays an important role in quality of health, especially among the elderly and those afflicted with non-communicable diseases (33,34).…”

Quality of life and well‐being of people receiving haemodialysis treatment in Scotland: A cross‐sectional survey

“…However, synthesis of the findings showed that spirituality can have a positive influence on patients" health outcomes and general well-being. These findings contribute to knowledge and add to previous limited claims about the influence of spirituality on the health outcomes and well-being of patients with chronic illness and, in particular, they add to the very My findings add to those reported by previous qualitative studies about the importance of dialysis patients" quests to find balance in their adjustment processes which highlights that spirituality is important and plays an integral part in improving the health outcomes and well-being of chronically ill elders or those receiving HD treatment (Walton, 2002;Harvey and Silverman, 2007).…”

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).…”