Affectivity and mental health among elderly religious

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Mental health and affectivity in elderly populations are crucial areas of research.
• Understanding the experiences of specific cultural or religious groups, such as Catholic nuns, can provide unique insights.
• Previous research has established instruments for measuring affectivity, like Lawton's Philadelphia Geriatric Center affectivity instrument.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore affectivity and mental health in a sample of elderly Catholic nuns.
• To identify patterns of positive and negative emotional experiences within this population.
• To investigate the multidimensional perception of health among these nuns.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study involving interviews with fifty elderly Catholic nuns from the Midwest.
• Utilized Lawton's Philadelphia Geriatric Center affectivity instrument to assess 10 dimensions of affectivity.
• Included an open-ended question regarding the definition of health.

Main Results:

• The nuns reported positive emotional experiences more frequently than negative ones.
• Key strengths in affectivity included duration of feelings, affective dissimulation, and emotional adaptation.
• Scores indicated statistically stronger emotional experiences compared to Lawton's general subjects; lowest scores were in sensation seeking, variability of feelings, and emotional maturity.

Conclusions:

• Elderly Catholic nuns exhibit a predominantly positive affectivity profile with notable emotional adaptation.
• The findings suggest a multidimensional perception of health within this group.
• This research lays groundwork for targeted mental health interventions for cultural minority groups.