Centre for Policy on Ageing



Religious activity improves life satisfaction for some physicians and older patients
Author(s)	Hana Ayele, Thomas Mulligan, Sylvia Gheorghiu
Journal title	Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, vol 47, no 4, April 1999
Pages	pp 453-455
Keywords	Spiritual characteristics [elderly] ; Religion ; Patients ; Psychiatrists ; Psychiatrists ; Stress ; Life satisfaction ; Social surveys ; United States of America.
Annotation	A cross-sectional study was conducted by postal survey with trainee doctors and psychiatrists in Virginia, chosen because they were reported to have the lowest level of religiosity. Older patients in hospital or residential care received a structured interview. Of the 100 doctors and psychiatrists answering the survey (50% response rate), 75% used religious activity as a coping resource (39% somewhat, 36% definitely). There was a positive correlation between intrinsic religious activity (e.g. prayer, Bible reading) and life satisfaction. Of 55 patients interviewed, 47 (86%) used religion as a coping resource, and intrinsic religious activity was positively associated with life satisfaction. Even after controlling for age, gender, health and marital status, intrinsic religious activity remained a predictor of higher life satisfaction both for doctors and ill older people. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-990825297 A
Classmark	EX: TR: LF: QT9: QT9: QNH: F:5HH: 3F: 7T
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.