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Spirituality and Well-Being in Old Age: Exploring the Dimensions of Spirituality in Relation to Late-Life Functioning

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Abstract

A growing body of research connects spirituality with positive late-life functioning. In this research, spirituality is often approached as a single measure in relation to well-being, neglecting its complex nature. Therefore, this study explores whether different dimensions of spirituality contribute uniquely to psychological well-being in advanced age. Results indicated that well-being was positively predicted by spirituality experienced through connectedness with the transcendent and through connectedness with others. Spirituality experienced through connectedness with nature did not predict well-being. These findings highlight the unique influence of each spirituality dimension on well-being as well as the need for a multidimensional approach.

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Notes

  1. Due to circumstances item 8 of the WEMWBS (“I’ve been feeling good about myself.”) was left out the questionnaires by one of the research assistance and so not administered.

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Funding

This study was funded by KU Leuven Grant Project StG/15/004BF.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, Box 3717, 3000, Louvain, Belgium

    Evalyne Thauvoye, Siebrecht Vanhooren & Jessie Dezutter

  2. Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, KU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium

    Anna Vandenhoeck

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  1. Evalyne Thauvoye
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  2. Siebrecht Vanhooren
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  3. Anna Vandenhoeck
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  4. Jessie Dezutter
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Correspondence to Evalyne Thauvoye.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee of the KU Leuven and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in this study.

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Thauvoye, E., Vanhooren, S., Vandenhoeck, A. et al. Spirituality and Well-Being in Old Age: Exploring the Dimensions of Spirituality in Relation to Late-Life Functioning. J Relig Health 57, 2167–2181 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-017-0515-9

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