title: Religiousness, religious coping, and psychological well-being in nursing home residents.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. kgscandrett@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Karen Glasser
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Scandrett
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: 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