Is there association between spirituality, religiosity and quality of life in active ageing? A cross sectional study

• Grant number: 14/01684-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2014
• End date: December 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Paula Costa Castro
• Grantee: Stephanie Martins de Faria
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Although there is evidence of the positive influence of spirituality and religiosity on quality of life in later life, little is known about the association of the spirituality, religiosity and quality of life on active aging. To shed a light about the effects of spirituality and religiosity on the quality of life in active aging, this study aims to check if there is association of this variables in health and active senescent individuals, ascertaining if there is difference between religious and atheists groups. Method - Design: will be done a Quanti-Qualitative cross-secctional study. Sample: First will be implemented a full selection of the population of participants at São Carlos University of the Third Age, they will be asked: "Do you participate in any religious group? or Are you atheists? Then, the participants will be divided in subgroups according with religious practice group (Catholic, Protestant, afro-Brazilian, spiritists and others) and the atheist group. After that, the participants will be randomized in order to select 5 subjects in each group. The select participants will answer, in a single meeting: Mental State Examination, WHOQOL-SRPB and Duke Religious Index - DUREL. Expected results: we expected to find significant differences in quality of life between the different religious groups, a high proportion of the elderly that follow the Catholicism and few atheists and a frequency to religious institution above of 40 %. It is expected, after the analysis of the data, that the association between spirituality, religiosity, and quality of life in Active Aging for atheists and different religions senescent be better clarified. In this way, we hope to contribute with the area, throwing light on the improvement of quality of Life (QOL) in order to guide intervention programs and policies to enable Active Ageing (EA). The results will be presented in congresses and scientific events of national and one international scope. (AU)