Religion and SubjectiveWell-being Among the Female Elderly People: A Focused Ethnography

Each religion has its own unique history, as well as specific life way for its followers based on beliefs, traditions, rules, and values.

This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of elderly people to determine the relationship between religiosity and subjective well-being.

This is a qualitative study that employed a method known as ethnographic research. Data were collected using observations, field notes, and in-depth interviews. Purposive sampling was used to select ten knowledgeable female elderly people within a residential home in the Kerman province in Iran. Collected data were analyzed through principles of thematic analysis.

Two themes were identified: A, embedded beliefs: The religious world of key participants, religious activities, and religious faith; B, religiousness and personal beliefs: Spiritual well-being and religious concerns. All older adults believed that praying can affect their feelings and make their hearts calm and peaceful, and enable them to cope with their problems in a peaceful way.

Participants have asserted the significance of religious faith and spiritual well-being in everyday life. Having stronger religiosity gives them a meaning of life and satisfies them with all components of life, a feeling like one has finished something in one’s life, accomplished happiness, and peace.