Research Description:

Exploring Hospice Spirituality

The intention of this research project is to explore the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic spirituality/religiosity and purpose in life on older hospice patients' subjective well-being and attitudes towards death. Intrinsic spirituality/religiosity can be defined as a way of living and thinking which entails a sense of collective purpose in life. In contrast, extrinsic spirituality/religiosity can be defined as having a more self-oriented, individualistic outlook (Atkinson & Malony, 1994 Chamberlain & Zika, 1992 McFadden, 1999).

Dr. Ardelt, my mentor, has found supporting evidence that only intrinsic spirituality/religiosity (not extrinsic) is positively correlated with a sense of meaning and purpose in life, a healthy acceptance of death, and subjective well being. For my project, I will analyze 11 qualitative interviews of older hospice patients (62+) from Dr. Ardelt's study. About half of those respondents scored relatively high on intrinsic religiosity and low on extrinsic religiosity and the remaining respondents scored relatively high on extrinsic religiosity but low on intrinsic religiosity in a quantitative survey interview. To prevent bias in the analyses, I am blinded as to the respondents' quantitative scores on intrinsic or extrinsic religiosity. I am analyzing several qualitative aspects of the available data to examine in greater depth how intrinsic spirituality/religiosity helps to promote accepting attitudes toward death and psychological well-being for patients at the end of life, and to explore why extrinsic spirituality/religiosity does not appear to have an equally beneficial effect. This research has obvious benefits for elderly and infirm patients facing impending death. By understanding the role of extrinsic and intrinsic spirituality/religiosity in hospice patients, I hope to be able to recommend interventions that might help to decrease the fear, despair, and suffering that is often associated with a person's impending demise and that might help dying people to face the inevitable fate that faces us all.

References Cited
Allport, G. W., & Ross, J. M. (1967). Personal religious orientation andprejudice. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 5, 432-443.

Ardelt, M. (In Press). "Effects of Religion and Purpose in Life on Elders'Subjective Well-Being and Attitudes toward Death." Journal of ReligiousGerontology.

Atkinson, B.E., & Malony, H.N. (1994). Personal religious orientation and prejudice. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 5,(432-443)

Chamberlain, K., & Zika, S. (1992). Religiosity, meaning in life,
andpsychological well-being: In J.F. Schumaker (Ed.) Religion and
mental health(pp. 138-148). New York: Oxford University Press.

McFadden, S.H. (1999). Surprised by joy and burdened by age: The journaland letters of John Casteel. In L.E. Thomas & S.A. Eisenhandler (Eds.),Religion, belief, and spirituality in late life (pp. 137-149). New York:Springer