{"title":"This mortal life: ageing and spirituality after the Great Transition","authors":"S. Pickard","doi":"10.1080/15528030.2020.1837331","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15528030.2020.1837331","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This chapter addresses the implications for ageing and pastoral practice of the rapid increase in life expectancy that has occurred over the past 150 years; often referred to as ‘The Great Transition’. Following a discussion of this feature of human life the chapter briefly considers some theological dimensions of ageing and the purpose of life in older years. Consideration is given to the denial of death and the consequent loss of a sense of human mortality and our status as creatures. The chapter concludes with a brief discussion of the dignity of persons associated with a theological understanding of human beings as bearers of the imago Dei. The pastoral implications of this affirmation show the importance of a richer understanding of the human person that transcends the biomedical paradigm.","PeriodicalId":44539,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religion Spirituality & Aging","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83082454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Laurence Lepherd, C. Rogers, R. Egan, H. Towler, Coralie Graham, Andrea Nagle, Ilsa Hampton
{"title":"Exploring spirituality with older people: (1) rich experiences","authors":"Laurence Lepherd, C. Rogers, R. Egan, H. Towler, Coralie Graham, Andrea Nagle, Ilsa Hampton","doi":"10.1080/15528030.2019.1651239","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15528030.2019.1651239","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT With an increasing aging population worldwide, there is a need for greater focus on the spirituality of older people, to better support them and lead them to an enhancement of their inner peace. This pilot research used a qualitative approach (with semi-structured interviews) in exploring spirituality with older people in residential aged care to understand more about the factors related to a sense of personal belief and connection that helped them in their daily lives. The research involved developing a rigorous exploratory process. The twenty-five (25) participants provided information about their rich experiences and their connections in four dimensions: (1) people, (2) creativity, (3) something bigger or higher than themselves and (4) their own inner being.","PeriodicalId":44539,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religion Spirituality & Aging","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85813049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A word from the editor","authors":"J. Ellor","doi":"10.1080/15528030.2020.1813391","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15528030.2020.1813391","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":44539,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religion Spirituality & Aging","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76857451","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A spiritual-based intervention in enhancing factors of well-being among older adults in home-based care","authors":"Mais Al-Nasa’h","doi":"10.1080/15528030.2020.1818160","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15528030.2020.1818160","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This study purposed to evaluate the effectiveness of group intervention (spiritual based) in decreasing depression and perceived stressors besides enhancing spiritual well-being and life satisfaction among a sample of older adults who reside in a home-based care setting. This study utilized the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), Perceived Stress Scale, Spiritual Well-being Scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale to measure the dependent variables. Thirty participants volunteered to participate in this study through a convenience sample. The researcher randomly assigned the participants into two equal groups. The result revealed that participants in the experimental group for the spiritual intervention significantly scored higher in the posttest on the Spiritual Well-being Scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale. However, their scores significantly decreased in GDS-15 and PSS when compared with the control group.","PeriodicalId":44539,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religion Spirituality & Aging","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89633423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Dadfar, D. Lester, Y. Turan, J. Beshai, H. Unterrainer
{"title":"Religious spiritual well-being: results from Muslim Iranian clinical and non-clinical samples by age, sex and group","authors":"M. Dadfar, D. Lester, Y. Turan, J. Beshai, H. Unterrainer","doi":"10.1080/15528030.2020.1818161","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15528030.2020.1818161","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to compare religious spiritual well-being between three Muslim Iranian samples: old and middle-aged adults, university students and psychiatric outpatients. The sample was a convenience sample of 561 individuals in Tehran, Iran, who completed the Multidimensional Inventory for Religious Spiritual Well-Being (MI-RSWB 48). The psychiatric outpatients had lower General Religiosity (GR), Hope Transcendent (HT), Transcendent component and total scores than the community residents, but higher Forgiveness (FO) scores. For the non-clinical females, the community residents had lower Hope Immanent (HI), GR, Connectedness (CO), Immanent component, Transcendent component and total scores and higher HT scores. We conclude that religious spiritual well-being differs between Muslim Iranian clinical and non-clinical samples, and also by age.","PeriodicalId":44539,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religion Spirituality & Aging","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89117260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mohsen Rezaei Aderyani, Elham Alimadadi, Mohamadhasan Hajrahimian, Z. Taheri-Kharameh
{"title":"Does spirituality predict death anxiety in chronically ill older adults in a religious context?","authors":"Mohsen Rezaei Aderyani, Elham Alimadadi, Mohamadhasan Hajrahimian, Z. Taheri-Kharameh","doi":"10.1080/15528030.2020.1814936","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15528030.2020.1814936","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Spirituality can be considered as a source of making meaning in life and may be important effect in defeating the fear of death. The aim of the study was to determine the predictors of death anxiety based on spirituality components in older adults with chronic disease. One hundred and fifty Iranian patients over 60 years old were selected by convenience sampling. The functional assessment of chronic illness therapy-Spiritual Well-being Scale, hospital anxiety and depression scale, and death anxiety scale was used for data collection. Results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that faith (β =−0.27; p = .038), and anxiety (β = 0.30; p = .018) had a significant relationship with death anxiety. Strengthening spirituality such as faith-Based health intervention may be helpful in patients with symptoms of death anxiety.","PeriodicalId":44539,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religion Spirituality & Aging","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78891505","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
fatemeh raeesi dehkordi, A. Eslami, Fereshteh Zamani Alavijeh, H. Matlabi
{"title":"Gerotranscendence and active aging: the lived experience","authors":"fatemeh raeesi dehkordi, A. Eslami, Fereshteh Zamani Alavijeh, H. Matlabi","doi":"10.1080/15528030.2020.1770662","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15528030.2020.1770662","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Active aging is a comprehensive and subjective concept that depends on an individuals’ personal experiences. The theory of gerotranscendence focuses on seniors and the aging process. This process would be of great value in dealing with the challenges that come in that period of life. The authors conducted this study to explore the lived experience of gerotranscendence and active aging among seniors. Following a directed content analysis procedure, we conduct semi-structured individual interviews with 39 community-dwelling seniors from the age of 60 including both genders living in Isfahan selected by purposeful sampling. Data collection and analysis were concurrent. The reliability of data was fulfilled by following Lincoln and Guba criteria. We stopped data collection when no new concept was added and data saturation was achieved. Based on the experience of elders, we identified three categories: 1) Self-transcendence, 2) Social transcendence, and 3) Cosmic level. These portrayed gerotranscendence as a continuous process confronting age-related change. The finding suggests that gerotranscendence was introduced as a dynamic process that occurred simultaneously with active aging accompanying the journey of life.","PeriodicalId":44539,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religion Spirituality & Aging","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86427063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The legacy of the Black Church: older African Americans’ religiousness","authors":"E. Thompson, A. Futterman, Maureen McDonnell","doi":"10.1080/15528030.2019.1611521","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15528030.2019.1611521","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The pronounced ways religion manifests itself in African-American attitudes, beliefs, and behavior remains one of the most fascinating areas of social gerontology and the sociology of religion. Using Lincoln and Mamiya’s discussion of the Black Church, we theorize that African Americans’ worship and faith become full-bodied whether individuals are affiliated with black congregations or not. Embodiment of the ‘black sacred cosmos’ moves African Americans to a shared worldview that transcends immediate affiliation with a church. Older adults (N = 357) were interviewed in their homes. Most participants (N = 286) were selected from a random sample of the community-based elders in a Northeastern city. “Snowball” sampling recruited 71 additional African American elders. Ages range from 60 to 101 with a mean of 74.1. African-Americans participating in black churches show only somewhat greater faith involvement than African-Americans in other churches when compared directly to one another. Regression analyses show religious involvement transcends African Americans’ church affiliation. African Americans’ worldview is a deeply rooted collective double-consciousness that can be inculcated and maintained outside black church congregations. Active affiliation with a black church seems to only slightly intensify the strength of older black people’s worship practices and faith.","PeriodicalId":44539,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religion Spirituality & Aging","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77944401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The graying of the flock revisited","authors":"J. L. Knapp","doi":"10.1080/15528030.2019.1608489","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15528030.2019.1608489","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Twenty years have passed since a national study was conducted that examined how congregations within the Churches of Christ were responding to their senior adult members. The present study sought to replicate that research effort as closely as possible in terms of the sampling frame, the survey questions, the hypotheses, and the statistical analysis. The results of the present study indicate that there are similarities with the original study but there are also some noticeable differences. Factors that may have contributed to the differences are identified, and suggestions for how to expand the body of research in this area are provided. In addition, the implications of the findings for those directly involved in senior adult ministry are discussed.","PeriodicalId":44539,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religion Spirituality & Aging","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83067062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Online religious communities and wellbeing in later life","authors":"Sarit Okun, Galit Nimrod","doi":"10.1080/15528030.2019.1666333","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15528030.2019.1666333","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This qualitative research sought to explore whether participation in online religious communities can alleviate distress in later life. Twenty-six religious individuals aged 70–96 were trained to use an experimental forum. Their experiences and online activities were documented for six months via interviews, media ethnographies, online observations and monthly follow-ups. Analysis led to identification of (1) Factors affecting participation; (2) Online activity patterns and (3) Effects on wellbeing. Findings indicate that continued spiritual involvement in later life through online religious communities is recommended as an accessible and available means of empowering older persons and enhancing their satisfaction with life.","PeriodicalId":44539,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religion Spirituality & Aging","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78895106","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}