The relationship between spiritual well-being, hardiness, and mental health in the elderly

Discovering factors associated with mental health of the elderly is an interesting subject in the psychology of aging. This study investigated the relationships of spiritual well-being, existential well-being, and hardiness with mental health in the elderly.

Methods and Materials:

 This descriptive-correlational research was conducted on the elderly living in the nursing home of Ardabil (Iran). One hundred individuals were randomly selected. Data was collected using questionnaires about spiritual well-being, hardiness, and mental health. The collected data was analyzed with Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis.

Spiritual well-being had significant negative associations with anxiety, depression, and social dysfunction. However, it had a positive significant relation with hardiness. Existential well-being had significant negative relations with somatization, anxiety, depression, and social dysfunction. Its relation with hardiness was positive and significant. Finally, hardiness had significant negative associations with anxiety and depression.

Mental health of the elderly can be predicted by spiritual well-being, existential well-being, hardiness, and age. The results of this study imply the importance of spiritual well-being and hardiness in maintaining mental health of the elderly.