The effect of spirituality on well-being in community-dwelling elderly

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24593443
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Community health/Gerontological nurisng
• Research Institution: University of the Ryukyus
• Principal Investigator: YOKOTA Takao 琉球大学, 医学部, 教授 (80220557)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 地域高齢者 / スピリチュアリティ / うつ / 認知的評価 / ストレスコーピング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study is based on a theory of psychological stress and coping developed by Lazarus to examine the effect of spirituality on depression by mediating cognitive appraisal or stress coping in community-dwelling elderly. The study showed a relationship between spirituality and "emotion-focused" and "avoidance-escape" coping styles related to "depressive tendencies," based on a theory of psychological stress and coping developed by Lazarus, evident among community-dwelling elderly. "Emotion-focused" coping style increased with increasing spirituality, which can lead to the alleviation of depression. Conversely, it was also shown that increased spirituality leads to an enhanced tendency to induce the "avoidance-escape" coping style and depression.

Free Research Field

精神保健看護学