The Results of Reflection on Spiritual Dimensions’ Self-Care Development to Spiritual Health Care in the Elderly Person.

Abstract

Background:
Spiritual well-being is increasingly recognized as an important dimension of holistic health among older adults. Reflection has been identified as a learning process that enables individuals to reinterpret life experiences and develop a deeper understanding of meaning in life. However, limited empirical research has examined the role of reflective practice in promoting spiritual well-being among community-dwelling older adults.
Objective:
This study aimed to examine the effect of reflective practice on spiritual well-being among older adults by comparing perceived meaning in life and lived experiences of meaningful life practices across four spiritual dimensions.
Methods:
This study employed a participatory action research (PAR) design. The participants consisted of 30 community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years and above who were members of an elderly club at a subdistrict health-promoting hospital in Lat Lum Kaeo District, Pathum Thani Province, Thailand. Data were collected using the Spiritual Health and Life-Orientation Measure (SHALOM), which assesses spiritual well-being across four dimensions: personal, communal, environmental, and transcendental. Descriptive statistics and paired t-tests were used to analyze differences in perceived meaning in life and meaningful life practices before and after participation in the reflection program.
Results:
The findings revealed significant improvements in spiritual well-being following participation in the reflection program. Statistically significant differences were found in both the perceived importance of meaning in life and the lived experiences of meaningful life practices across all four spiritual dimensions (p < .05). The results suggest that reflective practice helped participants reinterpret their life experiences, strengthen personal values, and develop a deeper sense of meaning in life.
Conclusion:
Reflective practice represents a meaningful approach for enhancing spiritual well-being among community-dwelling older adults. By encouraging individuals to reflect on life experiences, relationships, and personal beliefs, reflection can support spiritual self-care and promote holistic health in aging populations. The findings also provide new insights into the role of reflection as a mechanism linking life experiences with spiritual well-being, which may inform the development of community-based nursing interventions aimed at supporting healthy aging.