Inner strength in relation to functional status, disease, living arrangements, and social relationships among people aged 85 years and older.
Inner strength is described as an important resource that promotes well-being. We used data from a sample of 185 people in the Umeå 85+ cohort study to relate inner strength and its attributes to objective health variables. The Resilience, Sense of Coherence, Purpose in Life, and Self-Transcendence scales were used to assess aspects of inner strength, and strong correlations between the scales were found. Prevalence of heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, osteoporosis, or diagnosed depression was associated with low inner strength. Significant relationships were also found between high inner strength and various measures of social relationships. Participants with a higher degree of inner strength had better physical health and more satisfying social relationships. The promotion of inner strength should be a major aim of geriatric nursing.
Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Berit
B
Lundman
Lena
L
Aléx
Elisabeth
E
Jonsén
Hugo
H
Lövheim
Björn
B
Nygren
Regina
R
Santamäki Fischer
Gunilla
G
Strandberg
Astrid
A
Norberg
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004194:Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012919:Social Behavior; D014481:United States