Religious Coping Methods as Predictors of Psychological, Physical and Spiritual Outcomes among Medically Ill Elderly Patients: A Two-year Longitudinal Study

TLDR

Positive religious coping methods are generally associated with health improvements, whereas negative methods are linked to health declines. The study surveyed 268 medically ill, elderly patients on religious coping and spiritual, psychological, and physical functioning at baseline and two years later. Religious coping predicted spiritual outcomes and changes in mental and physical health, with positive coping (spiritual support, benevolent reappraisals) improving health, negative coping (punishing God reappraisal, interpersonal discontent) predicting declines, and persistent religious struggles heightening health‑related risks.

Abstract

A total of 268 medically ill, elderly, hospitalized patients responded to measures of religious coping and spiritual, psychological and physical functioning at baseline and follow-up two years later. After controlling for relevant variables, religious coping was significantly predictive of spiritual outcome, and changes in mental and physical health. Generally, positive methods of religious coping (e.g. seeking spiritual support, benevolent religious reappraisals) were associated with improvements in health. Negative methods of religious coping (e.g. punishing God reappraisal, interpersonal religious discontent) were predictive of declines in health. Patients who continue to struggle with religious issues over time may be particularly at risk for health-related problems.