New Directions in the Study of Late Life Religiousness and Spirituality

This book will help you examine the questions of “how,” “what,” and “why” associated with religiousness and spirituality in the lives of older adults. The first section will introduce you to new ways of thinking about research methodology and data analysis. The second section addresses issues of definition, exploring the questions, “What are we studying?” “What social and psychological influences shape our thinking about definition” and “Do the definitions used by gerontologists match those held by older people?” The final section moves the study of religion, spirituality, and aging beyond a focus on health and mortality to examine well-being more broadly in the context of the life experiences of older adults.