Spirituality and Aging: Linking Secular and Religious Dimensions

• In Event: 1580 - Section on Sociology of Religion Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 05. Religion, Health, and Well-being

Abstract

This paper offers a conceptual analysis of secular and religious dimensions
of spirituality as applied to older adults. We provide a review of the
literature on secular spirituality as it impacts meaning-making in late life.
The secular spirituality movement is juxtaposed with the more traditional
gerontological approaches which have generally combined concepts of
spiritual and religious orientations among older adults. Implications of
alternative conceptualizations of spirituality for prevalent measurement
approaches are discussed, and examples of alternative measures are
provided. Although it is often assumed that spirituality is of special
importance in late life, the absence of longitudinal data calls into question
this assumption. Linkages between psychological and physical well-being
outcomes and spirituality are discussed along with alternative mechanisms
that may be responsible for the benefits of spirituality on mental health and
physical health outcomes in late life.

Authors

• Christine Marie Schneider, Case Western Reserve University

• Eva Kahana, Case Western Reserve University

• Polina Ermoshkina, Case Western Reserve University