Spirituality/Medicine Interface Project

Spirituality, Disability and Chronic Illness

Authors: Carlos A. Reyes-Ortiz, MD, PHD

Abstract

Religious coping is the most widely used spiritual resource that older people utilize to deal with illness and stressful life events. Religious coping behaviors include two major dimensions, organizational and intrinsic.1,2 Organizational religiousness includes church attendance and religious group participation. Intrinsic religiousness includes faith in God, prayer, reading of scriptures, and religious attitudes. Both religious dimensions, by providing spiritual identity, social support, life meaning, life satisfaction, and a sense of hope, buffer stress and enhance coping.

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References

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