The Role of Spirituality in Conceptualizations of Health Maintenance and Healthy Aging Among Latin American Immigrants.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES\nWe aimed to investigate ways in which spirituality was conceptualized in relationship to maintaining brain health and healthy aging in a cohort of older adults who immigrated to the United States from diverse regions of Latin America, in order to ultimately develop culturally-tailored brain health promotion approaches.\n\n\nDESIGN\nWe conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.\n\n\nSETTING\nParticipants were recruited from community centers and by a memory care center at a large academic medical center.\n\n\nPARTICIPANTS\nWe interviewed 30 Spanish-speaking immigrants over age 60. Questions addressed perspectives about the brain, aging, and dementia. Interviews were coded for themes.\n\n\nMEASUREMENTS\nThematic analysis was used to analyze participants responses.\n\n\nRESULTS\nWe identified 5 themes: (1) expressing gratitude to God for mental and physical health, (2) putting the onus of life and death in God s hands, (3) using church as a place to socialize and build community as an approach to leading a healthy lifestyle, (4) using prayer as nourishment for the soul and the brain, and (5) gaining inner-peace and calm, and thus maintaining a healthy life, due to a connection with God.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nThe incorporation of customized spiritual interventions may be a mechanism by which to increase the effectiveness of brain health promotion efforts.