Religion and Health of the Elderly: Social Support, Coping, Forgiveness, and Prayer
Overview
This paper examines the complex relationship between religious involvement and health outcomes in elderly populations. It analyzes both negative and positive effects of religiosity, focusing on four key mechanisms: social support, religious coping, forgiveness, and prayer. The paper argues that mental tranquility and stress reduction through religious community engagement are primary drivers of improved physical and mental health in the elderly.
What this essay covers
- Introduction to the role of religion and community in geriatric healthcare
- Negative impacts of religious involvement including social conflicts and doubt
- Positive health outcomes through social support, spiritual coping, and prayer
- Role of forgiveness and implications for nursing counseling of elderly patients
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Religion and Health of the Elderly
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Religion and Health of the Elderly
Understanding the role of communities and religion in geriatric service provision is essential. There are various adverse effects on mental and physical health from religious involvement. Many negative impacts arise from negative interactions among religious persons. As the author notes, the negative impacts result from “unpleasant social encounters in the church that are characterized by criticism, rejection, competition, the violation of privacy, and the lack of reciprocity” (Krause, 2004, p. 1219). The most pronounced cases are from religious leaders subjected to scrutiny and frequent engagement in arguments before making decisions about their institutions.
There is a sense in which the article brings forth the idea that it is not the spiritual or supernatural power embedded in practicing religious activities but the mental tranquility or distress associated with religion that affects the psychology and physical health of elderly persons. On the other hand, numerous studies suggest a positive health outcome among elderly people associated with religious involvement (Bandini et al., 2019). Nevertheless, the relationship between religion and health outcomes remains complex, making the author focus on four main aspects: “social support, religious coping, forgiveness, and prayer” (Krause, 2004, p. 1216). Concerning social support, the article states that social support among religious groups improves the mental and physical health of the elderly. The rationale is that social support in emotion, information, and spiritual support helps the elderly decrease stressful experiences.