Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Determination of Factors Affecting Self-Transcendence and Meaning in Life Among the Elderly Receiving Institutional Care

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Religion and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study was conducted in order to determine factors that influence self-transcendence and meaning in life in the elderly receiving institutional care. This descriptive and analytic study was conducted on 72 elderly individuals living in a nursing home in Turkey. Data were collected with the Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living (ADL), the Lawton&Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) and the Self-Transcendence Scale (STS). The mean score of STS is 48.17 ± 6.67 at the intermediate level, and the mean scores of presence and search subscales of the MLQ are 28.07 ± 6.55 and 24.06 ± 7.73 above the intermediate level. The STS mean score is poorly correlated with the ADL (r = 0.277) and the IADL scale (r = 0.343). Increased perception of general health status of the elderly improved self-transcendence (ST) level (p = 0.04) and search for meaning in life (ML) level (p = 0.02). These findings show that the health perceptions of the elderly must be improved in the first place.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acton, G. J., & Wright, K. B. (2000). Self-Transcendence and Family Caregivers of Adults With Dementia. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 18(2), 143–158.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aile ve Sosyal Politikalar Bakanlığı [Ministry of Family and Social Policies] (2017). Engelli ve Yaşlı Bireylere İlişkin İstatistiki Bilgiler. [Statistical Information Regarding Handicapped and Elderly Individuals] Retrieved from https://eyh.aile.gov.tr/data/551169ab369dc57100ffbf13/B%C3%BClten_Ocak2017.pdf

  • Angel, S. (2009). The fight for a meaningful life. Sygeplejersken, 109(17), 48–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Demirbaş Çelik, N. & İşmen Gazioğlu, E. (2015). Yaşamda anlam ölçeği lise formu: Türkçe geçerlik ve güvenirliği. [Meaning in life scale highschool form: Turkish validity and reliability] Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 33 42–60.

  • Demirdağ, S. & Kalafat, S. (2015). Yaşamın Anlamı Ölçeği (YAÖ): Türkçeye Uyarlama, Geçerlik ve Güvenirlik Çalışması. [Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ): The Study of Adaptation to Turkish, Validity and Reliability]. İnönü Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 16(2), 83–95. https://doi.org/10.17679/iuefd.16250801

  • Dossey, B. M., & Luck, S. (2009). Nurse Coaching. In B. M. Dossey & L. Keegan (Eds.), Holistic Nursing: A Handbook for Practice (pp. 501–511). Ontario-London: Jones and Bartlett Publisher.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eun, Y., Song, K. A., Park, O. H., Ko, S. H., Park, M. H., Kim, J. S., et al. (2010). Gerontological nursing (2nd ed.). Seoul, Korea: Hyunmoonsa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gong, S.J. & Kim, K.H. (2010). Factors related to meaning in life in el¬derly. Journal of Korean Academy of Adult Nursing, 22(4), 438–47.

  • Haugan, G. (2014). Nurse–patient interaction is a resource for hope, meaning in life and self-transcendence in nursing home patients. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 28, 74–88. https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12028.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haugan, G., Hanssen, B., & Moksnes, U. K. (2013a). Self-transcendence, nurse–patient interaction and the outcome of multidimensional well-being in cognitively intact nursing home patients. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 27, 882–893. https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12000.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haugan, G., Hanssen, B., Rannestad, T., & Espnes, G. (2012). Self-transcendence and nurse-patient-interaction in cognitively intact nursing home patients. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 21(23–24), 3429–3441. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2012.04217.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haugan, G., & Innstrand, S. T. (2012). The effect of self-transcendence on depression in cognitively intact nursing home patients. ISRN Psychiatry, 2012, 301325. https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/301325.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Haugan, G., Rannestad, T., Hammervold, R., Garasen, H., & Espnes, G. A. (2013b). Self-transcendence in cognitively intact nursing-home patients: a resource for well-being. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 69(5), 1147–1160. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2012.06106.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jung, Y. J., Shin, K. I., Choi, S. O. (2006). A Survey on the meaning in life of elderly people. Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing, 13(3), 501–509.

  • Küçükdeveci, A. A., Yavuzer, G., Tennant, A., Süldür, N., Sonel, B., & Arasil, T. (2000). Adaptation of the modified Barthel Index for use in physical medicine and rehabilitation in Turkey. Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 32, 87–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawton, M. P., & Broody, E. M. (1969). Assessment of older people: self maintaining and instrumental activities of daily living. Gerontologist, 9, 179–186.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S.J., Ahn, O.K. & Cha, H.G. (2015). Factors influencing the meaning in life in the old age. Indian Journal of Science and Technology, 8(25), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.17485/ijst/2015/v8i25/80269.

  • Levenson, M. R., Jennings, P. A., Aldwin, C. M., & Shiraishi, R. W. (2005). Self- transcendence: conceptualizations and measurements. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 60, 127–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Low, G., & Molzahn, A. E. (2007). Predictors of quality of life in old age: a cross-validation study. Research in Nursing & Health, 30(2), 141–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luchtman Harrison, M (2000). Mental Health in Oldest-Old Adults: An Investigation of Self-Transcendence. (MastersTheses). Grand Valley State University. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/theses/490/.

  • Mahoney, F. I., & Barthel, D. W. (1965). Functional evaluation: The Barthel Index. Maryland State Medical Journal, 14, 61–65.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nygren, B., Aléx, L., Jonsén, E., Gustafson, Y., Norberg, A., & Lundman, B. (2005). Resilience, sense of coherence, purpose in life and self-transcendence in relation to perceived physical and mental health among the oldest old. Aging & Mental Health., 9, 354–362.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramer, L., Johnson, D., Chan, L., & Barrett, M. T. (2006). The effect of HIV/AIDS disease progression on spirituality and self-transcendence in a multicultural population. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 17(3), 280–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reed, G. P. (1991). Self-transcendence and mental health in oldest-old adults. Nursing Research., 40(1), 5–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reed, G. P. (2008). The theory of self-transcendence. In M. J. Smith & P. R. Liehr (Eds.), Middle range theory for nursing (pp. 145–166). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarıçam, H. (2015). Öz aşkınlık ölçeği Türkçe formunun psikometrik özellikleri. [The Psychometric Properties of Turkish Version of Self Transcendence Scale] Eurasian Academy of Sciences Social Sciences Journal, 5, 25–34. https://doi.org/10.17740/eas.soc.2015-V5-3

  • Steger, M. F., Frazier, P., Oishi, S., & Kaler, M. (2006). The meaning in life questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of counseling psychology, 53(1), 80–93. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.53.1.80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stinson, C. K., & Kirk, E. (2006). Structured reminiscence: an intervention to decrease depression and increase selftranscendence in older women. Journal of Clinical Nursing., 15(2), 208–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, P. (2007). The relationship of fatigue and meaning in life in breast cancer survivors. Oncology Nursing Forum, 34(3), 653–660.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu[Turkish Statistical Institute-TSI]. (2015). İstatistiklerle Yaşlılar 2014. Retrieved from http://www.tuik.gov.tr/PreHaberBultenleri.do?id=18620

  • Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu[Turkish Statistical Institute-TSI]. (2016). İstatistiklerle Yaşlılar 2015. Erişim tarihi: Retrieved from http://www.tuik.gov.tr/PreHaberBultenleri.do?id=21520

  • Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu [Turkish Statistical Institute-TSI]. (2017). Hayat Tabloları 2014–2016. Retrieved from http://www.tuik.gov.tr/PreHaberBultenleri.do?id=24640

  • Upchurch, S. (1999). Self-transcendence and activities of daily living. The woman with the pink slippers. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 17(3), 251–66.

  • Vanagas, R., & Rakšnys, A. V. (2014). The dichotomy of self-actualization and self-transcendence. Verslo Sistemos ir Ekonomika Business Systems and Economics, 4(2), 196–203. https://doi.org/10.13165/VSE-14-4-2-07.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization-WHO. (2018). Ageing and health. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health

  • Yalom, I.D. (2001). Varoluşçu Psikoterapi. [Existential Psychotherapy] Z.İyidoğan Babayiğit (Çevirmen). İstanbul: Kabalcı Yayınları.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sağlık Hizmetleri Meslek Yüksekokulu Konuralp Yerleşkesi, Düzce University, 81620, Düzce, Turkey

    Esra Usta & Serap Bayram

Authors
  1. Esra Usta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Serap Bayram
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Esra Usta.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Usta, E., Bayram, S. Determination of Factors Affecting Self-Transcendence and Meaning in Life Among the Elderly Receiving Institutional Care. J Relig Health 60, 2024–2036 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-020-01165-7

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-020-01165-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation