[Spirituality in old age as dynamic aging task].
Spiritualität im höheren Lebensalter als dynamische Alter(n)saufgabe.
Gerotranscendence
Old age
Qualitative research
Religiosity
Well-being
Journal
Zeitschrift fur Gerontologie und Geriatrie
ISSN: 1435-1269
Titre abrégé: Z Gerontol Geriatr
Pays: Germany
ID NLM: 9506215
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jul 2019
Jul 2019
Historique:
received:
23
02
2018
accepted:
27
03
2018
revised:
20
03
2018
pubmed:
14
4
2018
medline:
29
9
2019
entrez:
14
4
2018
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
A multitude of studies have demonstrated a positive effect of spirituality for dealing with difficult situations in life; however, specific studies on spirituality in older age are exceptionally rare within the German gerontological research landscape. The theory of gerotranscendence by Tornstam indicates that spirituality is of particular importance for maintaining life satisfaction especially in older age, due to a change in perspective. This study looked into the research questions of how spirituality is presented in the oldest old (80 years and older) in Germany and to what extent its characteristics are specific to older age. Problem-centered interviews were conducted with 20 oldest old subjects and evaluated using qualitative content analysis. Spirituality in itself is not specific to very old age. Its shaping, however, as an existential process of transformation and redefinition, is specific in the oldest old due to their socialization and biographical experiences over the life course impregnated by processes of subjectification and individualization. In addition, its relation to existential questions gains increasing relevance and priority in very old age in an affective, reflective and performative dimension, and the answers change between fragility and continuity. As a heterogeneous (intermediate) result of experiences over the life course against the background of socialization and individual existential interpretation of "Self" and "World", spirituality in the oldest old should be perceived in this diverse and dynamic manner in research and practice, in order to foster well-being in old age.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
A multitude of studies have demonstrated a positive effect of spirituality for dealing with difficult situations in life; however, specific studies on spirituality in older age are exceptionally rare within the German gerontological research landscape. The theory of gerotranscendence by Tornstam indicates that spirituality is of particular importance for maintaining life satisfaction especially in older age, due to a change in perspective.
OBJECTIVES
OBJECTIVE
This study looked into the research questions of how spirituality is presented in the oldest old (80 years and older) in Germany and to what extent its characteristics are specific to older age.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
METHODS
Problem-centered interviews were conducted with 20 oldest old subjects and evaluated using qualitative content analysis.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Spirituality in itself is not specific to very old age. Its shaping, however, as an existential process of transformation and redefinition, is specific in the oldest old due to their socialization and biographical experiences over the life course impregnated by processes of subjectification and individualization. In addition, its relation to existential questions gains increasing relevance and priority in very old age in an affective, reflective and performative dimension, and the answers change between fragility and continuity.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
As a heterogeneous (intermediate) result of experiences over the life course against the background of socialization and individual existential interpretation of "Self" and "World", spirituality in the oldest old should be perceived in this diverse and dynamic manner in research and practice, in order to foster well-being in old age.
Identifiants
pubmed: 29651599
doi: 10.1007/s00391-018-1391-y
pii: 10.1007/s00391-018-1391-y
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
ger
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
359-364Subventions
Organisme : Ministerium für Innovation, Wissenschaft und Forschung Nordrhein-Westfalen
ID : AZ 323-8.03-125240
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