Acceptance of aging, death anxiety and spiritual well-being of middle aged and elderly Sacred Heart Sisters of India

Date of Publication

1995

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Guidance and Counseling

Subject Categories

Counseling | Counseling Psychology

College

Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC College of Education

Department/Unit

Counseling and Educational Psychology

Thesis Adviser

Dr. Alexa Abrenica

Defense Panel Chair

Dr. Naomi Ruiz

Defense Panel Member

Dr. Salud Evangelista
Dr. Rose Marie S. Clemena

Abstract/Summary

This research finds out the degree of acceptance of aging, level of death anxiety, and spiritual well-being of the middle-aged and old-aged Sisters of the Sacred Heart Congregation (SHC) of India. The descriptive-comparative correlational research design was used. The middle-aged Sisters belonged to the 40-60 years' bracket. Those whose age was over 60 years belonged to the old-aged Sister category. Data were collected by using three instruments. These were the (1) Questionnaire on Graceful Aging (GAS), (2) Death Anxiety Questionnaire, and (3) Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWB).The 165 participants were drawn from the 16 communities of SHC. Among the total respondents, 85 were middle-aged and 80 were old-aged. Means and standard deviations were computed. The t-test and the Pearson r were also employed. The findings of the study were:1. The middle-aged Sisters experienced an average level of death anxiety, acceptance of being, and a high level of spiritual well-being 2. The old-aged Sisters experienced an average level of death anxiety, a high acceptance of aging, and a high degree of spiritual well-being 3. There was a significant difference between the middle-aged and the old-aged Sisters on their attitude towards aging and death anxiety. No significant difference was seen in two groups' spiritual well-being 4. There was a significant inverse correlation between the attitude towards aging and death anxiety and,

5. No significant relationships existed between spiritual well-being and (a) acceptance of aging as well as (b) death anxiety. It was concluded that the more the Sister accepted aging as a reality, the less would her anxiety about dying be. Spiritual well-being did not make any difference in the acceptance of aging and in the anxiety for death and vice versa.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Print

Accession Number

TG02452

Shelf Location

Archives, The Learning Commons, 12F Henry Sy Sr. Hall

Physical Description

134 leaves

Keywords

Aging; Fear of death; Middle age; Spiritual life; Aged; Monasticism and religious orders for women -- India; Monastic and religious life of women

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