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1- Department of Health and Social Welfare Management, Faculty of Social Health, University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. & Center for Research on Social Factors Affecting Health, Institute of Social Health, University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2- Center for Research on Social Factors Affecting Health, Institute of Social Health, University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. & Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Social Health, University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ,ra.bidhendi@uswr.ac.ir
3- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Social Health, University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. & Center for Aging Research, University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2- Center for Research on Social Factors Affecting Health, Institute of Social Health, University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. & Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Social Health, University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ,
3- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Social Health, University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. & Center for Aging Research, University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (35 Views)
Background and Objectives: Spiritual health has received considerable attention as one of the effective interventions on mental health indicators. Elderly women face numerous mental health challenges including depression, anxiety, and stress due to biological reasons and greater vulnerability to various problems. The present study is a review aimed at determining the relationship between spiritual health and mental health problems in elderly women.
Materials and Methods: All studies published in Persian and English in SID, ISC, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases were searched using relevant keywords up to January 2026. Grey literature was also considered through manual searching. All irrelevant studies were excluded based on the PRISMA protocol. After final screening for eligibility, the full texts of articles were assessed for quality using the JBI tool, and data relevant to the study objectives were extracted. Due to the high heterogeneity of studies in terms of design, population, and variables, the analysis was conducted using narrative synthesis based on the Popay et al. (2006) guidance.
Results: From 3,857 identified articles, after removing duplicates and those lacking eligibility criteria including age, methodological issues such as study type, and lack of full-text access, 13 articles were included. Quality assessment using the JBI tool showed that 9 articles (69%) had high quality and the rest had moderate quality. The results demonstrated that various dimensions of spiritual health including religious spiritual health (relationship with God and religious rituals), existential spiritual health (meaning and purpose in life), and spiritual well-being, were significantly associated with improved mental health indicators including reduced depression (correlation range: -0.647 to -0.734), reduced anxiety and anxiety sensitivity (correlation range: -0.734 to -0.350), reduced perceived stres, reduced lonelines, and increased quality of life (correlation range: 0.224 to 0.510), hope, life satisfaction (correlation range: 0.275 to 0.448), and successful aging. Interventional studies also showed that spiritual-religious psychotherapy significantly reduced depression and anxiety and increased quality of life.
Conclusion: Spiritual health in both religious and existential dimensions has significant positive effects on the mental health of Iranian elderly women and is associated with reduced depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness, as well as increased quality of life, hope, life satisfaction, and successful aging. Existential spiritual health plays a greater role in promoting quality of life and hope, while religious spiritual health is more effective in reducing depression and anxiety. It is recommended that geriatric specialists consider both dimensions of spiritual health in their care programs. Furthermore, explaining and refining practical components of Islamic mysticism and developing models in this field can serve as effective indigenous interventions to improve the mental health of elderly women.
Materials and Methods: All studies published in Persian and English in SID, ISC, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases were searched using relevant keywords up to January 2026. Grey literature was also considered through manual searching. All irrelevant studies were excluded based on the PRISMA protocol. After final screening for eligibility, the full texts of articles were assessed for quality using the JBI tool, and data relevant to the study objectives were extracted. Due to the high heterogeneity of studies in terms of design, population, and variables, the analysis was conducted using narrative synthesis based on the Popay et al. (2006) guidance.
Results: From 3,857 identified articles, after removing duplicates and those lacking eligibility criteria including age, methodological issues such as study type, and lack of full-text access, 13 articles were included. Quality assessment using the JBI tool showed that 9 articles (69%) had high quality and the rest had moderate quality. The results demonstrated that various dimensions of spiritual health including religious spiritual health (relationship with God and religious rituals), existential spiritual health (meaning and purpose in life), and spiritual well-being, were significantly associated with improved mental health indicators including reduced depression (correlation range: -0.647 to -0.734), reduced anxiety and anxiety sensitivity (correlation range: -0.734 to -0.350), reduced perceived stres, reduced lonelines, and increased quality of life (correlation range: 0.224 to 0.510), hope, life satisfaction (correlation range: 0.275 to 0.448), and successful aging. Interventional studies also showed that spiritual-religious psychotherapy significantly reduced depression and anxiety and increased quality of life.
Conclusion: Spiritual health in both religious and existential dimensions has significant positive effects on the mental health of Iranian elderly women and is associated with reduced depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness, as well as increased quality of life, hope, life satisfaction, and successful aging. Existential spiritual health plays a greater role in promoting quality of life and hope, while religious spiritual health is more effective in reducing depression and anxiety. It is recommended that geriatric specialists consider both dimensions of spiritual health in their care programs. Furthermore, explaining and refining practical components of Islamic mysticism and developing models in this field can serve as effective indigenous interventions to improve the mental health of elderly women.
Keywords: Spiritual health, Religious health, Mental health, Spiritual well-being, Relationship with God, Prayer, Women, Elderly
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