Article2004

Religion, Spirituality, and Health in Medically Ill Hospitalized Older Patients

Harold George Koenig · Linda K. George · Patricia Titus

435 citations0/0 files storedJournal of the American Geriatrics Society

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Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology Religion and Society Interactions Workplace Spirituality and Leadership

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of religion and spirituality on social support, psychological functioning, and physical health in medically ill hospitalized older adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Duke University Medical Center. PARTICIPANTS: A research nurse interviewed 838 consecutively admitted patients aged 50 and older to a general medical service. MEASUREMENTS: Measures of religion included organizational religious activity (ORA), nonorganizational religious activity, intrinsic religiosity (IR), self-rated religiousness, and observer-rated religiousness (ORR). Measures of spirituality were self-rated spirituality, observer-rated spirituality (ORS), and daily spiritual experiences. Social support, depressive symptoms, cognitive status, cooperativeness, and physical health (self-rated and observer-rated) were the dependent variables. Regression models controlled for age, sex, race, and education. RESULTS: Religiousness and spirituality consistently predicted greater social support, fewer depressive symptoms, better cognitive function, and greater cooperativeness (P<.01 to P<.0001). Relationships with physical health were weaker, although similar in direction. ORA predicted better physical functioning and observer-rated health and less-severe illness. IR tended to be associated with better physical functioning, and ORR and ORS with less-severe illness and less medical comorbidity (all P<.05). Patients categorizing themselves as neither spiritual nor religious tended to have worse self-rated and observer-rated health and greater medical comorbidity. In contrast, religious television or radio was associated with worse physical functioning and greater medical comorbidity. CONCLUSION: Religious activities, attitudes, and spiritual experiences are prevalent in older hospitalized patients and are associated with greater social support, better psychological health, and to some extent, better physical health. Awareness of these relationships may improve health care.

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References

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Cited by

1988Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support 2004Religion, Spirituality, and Medicine: Research Findings and Implications for Clinical Practice 2008Mindfulness, spirituality, and health-related symptoms 2011The Daily Spiritual Experience Scale: Overview and Results 2014Measures of Religiosity 2007Daily Spiritual Experiences and Psychological Well-being Among US Adults 2008Spirituality, religion and suicidal behavior in a nationally representative sample

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