Understanding Religious/Spiritual Coping and Support Resources Among African American Older Adults: A Mixed-Method Approach

ABSTRACT

Research has revealed positive effects of faith and spirituality on the physical and mental health of older adults. This phenomenon seems to be more prominent for African American elderly. Using a mixed-method approach, this research examines religious/spiritual coping and primary sources of social support for African American as compared with White peers. In Study 1, samples of 264 White and 115 African American older adults were compared on the Multidimensional Measures of Religiousness and Spirituality (NIA/Fetzer, 1997). Compared with their White peers, African American elders revealed higher levels of religiosity and spirituality, referring to God as their primary source of social support, whereas White elderly relied more on family and friends for support. In Study 2, the use of religious/spiritual coping and social support to manage life stressors is explored further through the use of in-depth interviews with 12 African American older adults. Implications for practice are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• African Americans
• aging
• religiosity
• spirituality
• coping
• social support