ASSOCIATION BETWEEN LOCUS OF CONTROL OF HEALTH, RELIGIOUS ATTITUDE, AND SPIRITUALITY IN OLDER ADULTS IN PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS OF JEDDAH

Abstract

Background: A common perception in Muslim society is there that, in old age people see God (Allah) to close as well as they spend most of their time in worshiping and other religious as well spiritual based activities. While role of health and locus of health control is also playing such religious and spiritual practices.

Aim of Study: To check the correlation between health locus of control, religious attitude, and spirituality among older Saudi Arabians adults

Method: A cross-sectional descriptive research design was used on the 109 older adults, who were selected through online questionnaire by using convenient purposive sampling technique. As we used three questionnaire such as health locus of control, religious attitude scale and spirituality index.

Findings & Results: It was found that older adults have a high level of religious attitude as 71.2% and spirituality as 80.1%. The correlation of the sub-domain of health locus of control in its powerful others dimension has a low but statistically significant correlation with religious attitude (r = .278, p < .01) and does not have a correlation with spirituality, thus, a level high religious attitude makes it more likely that older adults have a locus of control over health powerful others at a high level (odds = 3.11, 2.21 – 7.22). 

Conclusion: There is higher level of religious attitude in Saudi older Adults. While health locus of control has a significant impact in practicing religious activities as well as showing spirituality.