Exploring the Experience of Spirituality in Older Women Finding Meaning in Life

Abstract

ABSTRACT Spirituality is a broad, multifaceted, multidimensional construct that appears to increase in importance with aging and may assist older adults in seeking meaning to life and responding to stressful life events. Research in the area of spirituality is lacking especially as it relates to older women. The purpose of this study was to explore spirituality in the lives of older women. A convenience sample of 210 older women completed the JAREL Spiritual Well-Being Scale. Overall, data analysis indicated that these women had a reasonably high level of spirituality. In addition, those women who described their health as good or excellent and had a college education had higher spirituality scores. In order to explore, describe and understand the experience of women's spirituality, further research is essential.