Religiousness, religious coping, and psychological well-being in nursing home residents.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the importance of religion among nursing home residents, describe their use of religious coping strategies, and examine the association between religiousness, religious coping, and psychological well-being.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Two nursing facilities in Boston, Massachusetts.


METHODS
One hundred forty cognitively intact to moderately impaired long-stay nursing home residents.


METHODS
Subjects rated religion as either "not important," "somewhat important," or "very important." Use of religious coping strategies was measured using the 14-item Brief RCOPE. The outcome measure, psychological well-being, was measured with the Bradburn Affect Balance Scale. Covariates included demographic variables and a measure of social engagement, comorbidity, functional status, and mental status. Linear regression was used to examine the association between religious importance and psychological well-being after adjusting for covariates.


RESULTS
Subjects rated the importance of religion as follows: very important (54%), somewhat important (27%), and not important (19%). The mean score on the Affect Balance Scale was 5.9 +/- 2.1 (SD) (range 2-9). After multivariate adjustment, viewing religion as somewhat or very important (versus not important, P=.0019) and absence of negative religious coping strategies (P=.0083) were associated with better psychological well-being (with higher scores on the Affect Balance Scale) (P=.007).


CONCLUSIONS
Religion was important to most older residents living in 2 religiously affiliated long-term care facilities. Residents for whom religion was somewhat or very important and who did not use negative religious coping strategies are more likely to have better psychological well-being.
Scandrett
Karen Glasser
KG
Department of Geriatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. kgscandrett@northwestern.edu
Mitchell
Susan L
SL
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001900:Boston; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012067:Religion