Spirituality and Quality of Life and Its Effect on Depression in Older Adults in Mexico

Abstract

The quality of life (QOL) appears as an object of study of psychology, as a central component of human well-being. The quality of life in the elderly is especially relevant because as the years go the older persons can have lost health, the social role, the cognitive functioning, the power financial and their family. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the impact of psychological variables associated with quality of life in Mexican elderly. A sample of 75 elderly people between 60 and 87 years (mean = 65, SD = 9.41), 45 women and 30 men, assigned to a health clinic. QOL was measured with the WHOQOL, and an ex post facto design, three groups were formed by the level obtained with depressive symptoms GDS: (G1) absent (n 1 = 42), (G2) mild (n 2 = 19) and (G3) moderate-severe (n 3 = 14). An acceptable correlation between QOL and spirituality (r = .523, p < .0001). A negative association between QOL and depression (r = – .482, p < .0001). The QOL showed differences between groups with different levels of depressive symptoms (F (2.72) = 15.212, p < .0001). The QOL exhibited differences between diseased subjects (QOL = 61.19) and nondiseased (QOL = 66.61) (t = 2.025, p < .046). There were differences in the level of spirituality (Sp) among elderly patients (Sp = 64.77) and non-elderly patients (Sp = 75.0) (t = 2.37, df = 97, p < .02). The QOL in the elderly can be improved with psychological interventions to help reduce depression, where spirituality can be a resource and coping strategy to strengthen other areas of aging.