Spirituality and religiosity play a significant role in the process of later life development. Aging is associated with the deterioration of bodily functions accompanied by chronic diseases, physical fatigue, and an activity decrease. Moreover, people tend to leave their jobs, spend more time at home and become socially isolated. Such circumstances negatively affect older people’s well-being but maintaining spirituality helps buffer the deleterious impacts associated with aging.
In a sense, spiritual development compensates for physical deterioration and prevents social isolation. Lima et al. (2020) state that “individuals’ need to function well, fulfilling their role and social functions in a satisfactory way” to have good life quality (p. 2). It appears that older people need to stay an active part of society, and attending divine service is a common way to fulfill that necessity. Malone and Dadswell (2018) state that physical and psychological health may appear unachievable later in life. Spirituality and belief, in turn, promote sense, understanding, and structure to everyday life, contributing to positive aging.
A wide range of spiritual activities creates determinants of older adults’ successful aging outcomes. Coleman et al. (2016) assume that attending religious service and religious participation results in health benefits, including reduced physical functioning limitations, psychological well-being, lower depression, and increased quality of life. It is conditioned, among other things, by social, educational, and motivational means of religion: services imply enlightening, supportive, explanatory, and inspiring meetings. According to Coleman et al. (2016), spirituality positively affects older people’s relationships, leading to better communication with younger generations and fruitful social interactions. Religiosity encourages aging people to maintain their social identity while being a part of some group, and having a purpose and support (Coleman et al., 2016). It is essential for older people to be connected with others on the basis of something shared and identify themselves with a somewhat group.
The social side of life is vital, especially when the main activity is gradually fading away. Spirituality plays a role as the “support that helps older people to counter the tendency to isolation and overcomes the problems of daily life” (Lima et al., 2020, p. 5). Religion allows people to achieve social support that, in turn, “reflects on elderly’ health and… is an important indicator of health-related quality of life” (Lima et al., 2020, p. 2). Exploring the connection between spirituality and positive aging outcomes is based on human nature’s complex and comprehensive structure. Accordingly, well-being is also a multidimensional notion applicable when all sides of life are satisfying.
Spirituality is a support system that gradually improves the quality of life and maintains coping skills. Coping and resilience are psychological mechanisms closely linked to spirituality; those tools facilitate dealing with challenges and facing life hardships. As stated by Manning et al. (2019), “greater levels of resilience may lead to a more meaningful and satisfying old age” (p. 169). The connection between resilience and spirituality is proven qualitatively and quantitatively but mainly described as a guide and pathway (Manning et al., 2019). It implies that spiritual development is a way to resilience and a source of coping. Religiosity offers life guidance that goes beyond religious practices and moral or belief borders.
Older people undergo not only the biological process of aging but, at the same time, experience severe psychological and social transformations. Religion, beliefs, and spiritual development enhance the experience of later life and help handle aging challenges, such as loss or illness. Spirituality contributes to a meaningful life and health benefits, including reduced physical functioning limitations, promotes active social life and affiliation to the community, enhances coping skills, and bolsters resilience.
References
Coleman, P. G., Schröder-Butterfill, E., & Spreadbury, J. H. (2016). Religion, spirituality, and aging. In V. L. Bengston & R. A. Settersten (Eds.), Handbook of theories of aging (3rd ed., pp. 577-598). Springer.
Lima, S., Teixeira, L., Esteves, R., Ribeiro, F., Pereira, F., Teixeira, A., & Magalhães, C. (2020). Spirituality and quality of life in older adults: A path analysis model. BMC Geriatrics, 20(1), 1-8.
Malone, J., & Dadswell, A. (2018). The role of religion, spirituality and/or belief in positive aging for older adults. Geriatrics, 3(28).
Manning, L., Ferris, M., Narvaez Rosario, C., Prues, M., & Bouchard, L. (2019). Spiritual resilience: Understanding the protection and promotion of well-being in later life. Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging, 31(2), 168-186.