Religion, spirituality, and health in medically ill hospitalized older patients.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of religion and spirituality on social support, psychological functioning, and physical health in medically ill hospitalized older adults.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Duke University Medical Center.


METHODS
A research nurse interviewed 838 consecutively admitted patients aged 50 and older to a general medical service.


METHODS
Measures of religion included organizational religious activity (ORA), nonorganizational religious activity, intrinsic religiosity (IR), self-rated religiousness, and observer-rated religiousness (ORR). Measures of spirituality were self-rated spirituality, observer-rated spirituality (ORS), and daily spiritual experiences. Social support, depressive symptoms, cognitive status, cooperativeness, and physical health (self-rated and observer-rated) were the dependent variables. Regression models controlled for age, sex, race, and education.


RESULTS
Religiousness and spirituality consistently predicted greater social support, fewer depressive symptoms, better cognitive function, and greater cooperativeness (P<.01 to P<.0001). Relationships with physical health were weaker, although similar in direction. ORA predicted better physical functioning and observer-rated health and less-severe illness. IR tended to be associated with better physical functioning, and ORR and ORS with less-severe illness and less medical comorbidity (all P<.05). Patients categorizing themselves as neither spiritual nor religious tended to have worse self-rated and observer-rated health and greater medical comorbidity. In contrast, religious television or radio was associated with worse physical functioning and greater medical comorbidity.


CONCLUSIONS
Religious activities, attitudes, and spiritual experiences are prevalent in older hospitalized patients and are associated with greater social support, better psychological health, and to some extent, better physical health. Awareness of these relationships may improve health care.
Koenig
Harold G
HG
Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. koenig@geri.duke.edu
George
Linda K
LK
Titus
Patricia
P
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003071:Cognition; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012067:Religion; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality