Influence of spirituality on quality of life in community-dwelling elderly: Integrative literature review
Keywords:
Elderly, Quality of life, Spirituality.Abstract
Aging brings some limitations that become more pronounced with advancing age, and psychological, physical, behavioral and social changes can diminish the quality of life of the elderly, who seek spirituality. Spirituality is a tool for coping with difficulties and attributing meaning to life, providing hope, faith and motivation. This study analyzed the health aspects associated with spirituality in elderly people in the community. It is an integrative review that synthesized scientific production with the guiding question: What scientific knowledge is produced on health-related aspects associated with better levels of spirituality in community-dwelling elderly people in Brazil? Articles were selected using the following descriptors in Portuguese and English: spirituality, aged, quality of life, with the following inclusion criteria: published in full, available electronically, in Portuguese, English and/or Spanish, published between 2015 and 2020, in the SciELO, LILACS, PubMed and Portal de Periódico Capes databases. A total of 130 articles were identified and 15 were selected that presented evidence on the influence of spirituality on the quality of life of the elderly. After reading the articles, two categories of analysis emerged: I - The experience of spirituality in situations of chronic illness, and II - The relationship between spirituality and the well-being/quality of life of the elderly. Most studies have shown positive effects of spirituality on health outcomes, with better physical health, quality of life, longer survival, lower rates of depression and lower prevalence of chronic diseases. It also demonstrates the ability to withstand limitations and protect against stress in the face of the changes of ageing. Finally, the results indicate a positive influence of spirituality on the quality of life of the elderly. The importance of spirituality for health practices and the need to value it and include it in health professional training are highlighted.
