4th Annual WML Academic Symposium

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationships among physical health, spirituality, and psychological well-being in older adults. A number of studies suggest a strong association between physical health and psychological well-being. With regards to the construct of spirituality, research to date primarily has focused either solely on religiosity or on the combined construct of religiosity/spirituality within the aging population. There is a lack of research with regards to independent relationships between spirituality and physical health. Therefore, the current study focuses on spirituality.

Spirituality is operationalized as a distinct concept from religiosity and is conceptualized as an individual’s internal expression of religious beliefs, faith, and his/her understanding of meaning in life. This study explores the association between physical health and psychological well-being in older adults, along with an exploration of whether there may be a verifiable three-way interaction among physical health, psychological well-being, and spirituality. This study utilizes a convenience sample consisting of participants 65 years of age and older. Data are obtained from a verbal interview consisting of 3-open ended questions related to participants self-assessment of their general physical health, and a 39 item survey consisting of 3 demographic questions, 18 psychological well-being questions, and 18 spirituality questions. The 39-item survey was created from three previously established instruments.