The Relationship of Spiritual Well-being and Anxiety, Depression and Quality of Life in Active Old Age

Youm, Hyong Uk; Cheung, Seung Deuk; Seo, Wan Seok; Koo, Bon Hoon; Bai, Dai Seg

Abstract

BACKGROUND
This study assessed the mental health, in order to determine the effect of the subject's spiritual well-being on anxiety depression and quality of life in active old people, and to verify whether or not spiritual well-being is a new factor for comprehensive health in old people. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study selected 184 old people aged over 65 years. The subject's spiritual well-being was assessed by the Korean Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWS) that was composed of the Religious Well-being Scale (RWS) and Existential Well-being Scale (EWS). The quality of life was assessed using Quality of Life Scale, which was composed of the subjective feeling about life and the subject's satisfaction of their whole life. RESULTS: Among the psychosocial factors, the educational level and physical health, showed significant discriminative score in the SWS. A prior medical history was associated with a significantly low SWS score. Satisfaction with life was associated with a significantly high SWS score. These factors a showed significant discriminative EWS score rather than a RWS. Among the religion factors, the satisfaction with their religion showed significant difference in the SWS. The SWS score especially the EWS affected the anxiety and depression of the Korean Combined Anxiety and Depression Scale (CADS). The subjective feeling of life score was associated with a significantly EWS low score and the subject's satisfaction with their whole life score was associated with a significantly high EWS score. CONCLUSION: Spiritual well being has significantly effects on anxiety depression and the quality of life in active old age people, and the subject; s spiritual well-being might be a new factor for assessing health in old age.