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Dark Times and Second Chances: Perceived Growth From Adversity.
Aaron M Ogletree1, Rosemary Blieszner2
135051National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Bethesda, MD, USA.
International Journal of Aging & Human Development
|August 16, 2021
Summary
Older adults with strong religious worldviews perceive adversity as spiritual growth, reducing fear of death. This research explores the connection between spiritual growth, religious beliefs, and end-of-life perspectives in later life.
Area of Science:
- Psychology of Religion
- Gerontology
- Sociology of Religion
Background:
- Research often overlooks how religious beliefs influence end-of-life perspectives.
- A lifespan approach is crucial for understanding developmental changes in religious views and death anxiety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if perceiving growth from adversity strengthens religious worldviews.
- To examine the relationship between spiritual growth, religious beliefs, and death anxiety in older adults.
Main Methods:
- Directed content analysis of in-depth interviews with 16 adults aged 65+.
- Interviews focused on life events, religious worldviews, and attitudes toward death.
Main Results:
- Participants' religious beliefs facilitated positive reinterpretation of adversities as opportunities for spiritual growth.
- Strong spiritual and religious worldview beliefs were linked to a lack of fear regarding death.
Conclusions:
- Perceptions of spiritual growth from adversity may fortify religious worldviews in later life.
- Individualized, deeply spiritual religious beliefs can mitigate death anxiety in older adults.
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