Exploring the role of spirituality in self-management practices among older African-American and non-Hispanic White women with chronic conditions.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the role of spirituality in the self-management of chronic illness among older women with chronic conditions.


METHODS
A sample of 41 African-American and non-Hispanic White women, of age 66 and older, participated in the process of self-care study. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews and analysed for common themes using the Grounded Theory method.


RESULTS
Audiotaped and transcribed interviews identified four categories that emerged to suggest the influence of spirituality in behavioural change and disease management: (1) God's involvement in illness management; (2) prayer as a mediator; (3) spirituality as a coping mechanism; and (4) the combination of conventional and spiritual practices.


CONCLUSIONS
Older women with various chronic illnesses defined 'spirituality' in a broad, holistic way, and the findings suggest that spirituality played a part in documenting the self-management process. Knowledge of spirituality and the role it plays in illness management may assist public health gerontologists in designing effective and culturally appropriate self-management programmes.
Harvey
Idethia Shevon
IS
Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 127 S Huff Hall, MC-588, Champaign, IL 61820, USA. shevon@illinois.edu
Cook
Lawanda
L
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012648:Self Care; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*