The Role of Spirituality in Conceptualizations of Health Maintenance and Healthy Aging Among Latin American Immigrants

Overview

Journal Am J Geriatr Psychiatry

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Geriatrics

Date 2021 Jun 7

PMID 34092458

Citations 6

Authors

Sophia Weiner-Light

Katherine P Rankin

Serggio Lanata

Katherine L Possin

Daniel Dohan

Alissa Bernstein Sideman

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to investigate ways in which spirituality was conceptualized in relationship to maintaining brain health and healthy aging in a cohort of older adults who immigrated to the United States from diverse regions of Latin America, in order to ultimately develop culturally-tailored brain health promotion approaches.

Design: We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.

Setting: Participants were recruited from community centers and by a memory care center at a large academic medical center.

Participants: We interviewed 30 Spanish-speaking immigrants over age 60. Questions addressed perspectives about the brain, aging, and dementia. Interviews were coded for themes.

Measurements: Thematic analysis was used to analyze participants' responses.

Results: We identified 5 themes: (1) expressing gratitude to God for mental and physical health, (2) putting the onus of life and death in God's hands, (3) using church as a place to socialize and build community as an approach to leading a healthy lifestyle, (4) using prayer as nourishment for the soul and the brain, and (5) gaining inner-peace and calm, and thus maintaining a healthy life, due to a connection with God.

Conclusion: The incorporation of customized spiritual interventions may be a mechanism by which to increase the effectiveness of brain health promotion efforts.

Citing Articles

Perceptions of brain health and aging among middle-aged latinos: A qualitative paper.

Light S, Tomasino F, Del Salto M, Vela A, Rogalski E, Possin K Patient Educ Couns. 2024; 130:108462.

PMID: 39413721 PMC: 11611616. DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2024.108462.

Prediction of accident-proneness among a sample of Iranian workers: usefulness of an adjusted version of the Health Belief Model with spiritual health.

Heidari A, Falahati M, Coetzer-Liversage A, Biabani A, Karimy M BMC Psychol. 2024; 12(1):474.

PMID: 39252091 PMC: 11384685. DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01956-7.

Resiliency and Barriers to Successful Aging Among Middle-Aged Mexican Immigrants Residing in a Rural Agricultural Community.

Ambriz E, Rojas N, Okoye O, Calderon N, Calderon L, Kogut K J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2024; 79(8).

PMID: 38847491 PMC: 11237991. DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbae103.

Understanding barriers to and facilitators of clinician-patient conversations about brain health and cognitive concerns in primary care: a systematic review and practical considerations for the clinician.

Borson S, Small G, OBrien Q, Morrello A, Boustani M BMC Prim Care. 2023; 24(1):233.

PMID: 37932666 PMC: 10626639. DOI: 10.1186/s12875-023-02185-4.

Perceptions, beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge of US Latino adults pertaining to dementia and brain health: a systematic review.

Light S, Tomasino F, Wescott A, Bernstein Sideman A, Vela A, Possin K Aging Ment Health. 2023; 28(3):396-407.

PMID: 37874117 PMC: 10983845. DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2023.2268050.

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