Qualidade de vida de religiosas em processo de envelhecimento : fatores de risco e de proteção e suas repercussões

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze the factors that positively and negatively affect the quality of life of elderly nuns in the aging process and its theme was: Quality of life of nuns in the aging process, risk and protective factors and their repercussions. The research was descriptive, exploratory, cross-sectional in nature, with a mixed approach: quantitative and qualitative. The population investigated was made up of 60 nuns, aged between 60 and 96 years, who are part of the Conference of Religious of Brazil, Regional São Paulo, (CRB-SP) and are residents of the Congregation's own convents and houses, specifically for elderly nuns. and they also live in smaller communities. Data collection was carried out in two stages. In the first stage, the Sociodemographic Questionnaire and the World Health Organizational Quality of Life (WHOQOL) in its WHOQOL-OLD variation (World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Inventory in Elderly Adults) were used. In the second stage, the Semi-Structured Interview was applied to 4 participants, two of whom presented the most favorable results and two the least favorable in terms of quality of life. The results of the study indicate that the majority of nuns (38%) were between 80 and 89 years old and that only 5.3% had completed higher education. Although a significant percentage of the sample (78%) reported having a health problem, the elderly nuns are, in general, healthy and functionally independent, considering that the presence of chronic diseases is a factor that can interfere with quality of life. of these women. The study suggests that education and control of chronic diseases are factors that can contribute to a better quality of life. Protective factors, such as religiosity and social support, can help religious women age in a healthy and meaningful way. Therefore, the risk and protective factors for the quality of life of elderly nuns are not yet fully known. In short, the study contributes to the understanding of the aging of religious women as a multifaceted process, influenced by a multiplicity of factors, including education, living in a community, the practice of daily meditation and the control of chronic diseases, the practice of Leisure are factors that can contribute to a better quality of life for religious women. However, more research is needed to better understand aging, not only of religious elderly women, but of the elderly population in general.