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RELIGION AND SELF-COPING WITH AGING BY ADULTS OVER SIXTY-FIVE A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the School of Theology at Claremont In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Vivian J. Thomas May 1996 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. This dissertation, written by Vivian J. Thomas______________ under the direction of-------Faculty Committee, and approved by its members, has been presented to and accepted by the Faculty of the School of Theology at Claremont in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Faculty Committee Chairman Date. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. © Vivian J. Thomas ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Religion and Self-Coping With Aging By Adults Over Sixty-Five by Vivian J. Thomas The primary purpose of this dissertation is to explore the impact of religious attitudes and behaviors on effective coping of adults over sixty-five with increasing physical disabilities and decreasing social capabilities. This study centers around pastoral counseling interviews with older people, in various community settings, as they reflect on the quality of their lives and their current religious beliefs. The focus of the interviews was to secure the opinions of older people about the possibility of having coped with their aging with the support of their Judeo-Christian religious beliefs and practices. Pastoral counseling interviews were held with older adults in a variety of settings and samples were drawn from different groups of these populations. A random sample is drawn from a medical setting. Non-random samples are drawn from senior communities of residents in retirement facilities, a retirement housing complex, senior groups, and senior volunteers. This study encourages the development of closer relationships between pastoral counselors and other professional disciplines which service the elderly. Medical staff, social service staff, health care personnel, and pastoral counselors, together, may have an understanding of Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. the physical, psychological and spiritual issues that frequently effect the older person in crisis. This study highlights the increasing numbers of older people and the need for creative ministries with them. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work would not have been completed without the interest and cooperation of many people. In the process of writing this dissertation I came to meet and know wonderful people who in their own unique ways are a part of this effort and have contributed so much to my own personal growth. Many blessings have been a part of this experience. An initial blessing was the acceptance by Professor William M. Clements to serve as chairperson of the dissertation committee. He brought to the experience his interest in aging as an authority on spiritual development in the second half of life. Dean Allen Moore was a second blessing. Prior to his retirement he was able to give out of his wisdom some astute suggestions which helped in the writing of this study. Professor Stephen Kim was most gracious and supportive. He helped me to reflect on the multicultural aspects of aging in the Judeo-Christian communities and the need for further research. Professor Karen Baker-Fletcher brought a new perspective to the committee team with her consciousness of women and social issues. Ms. Elaine Walker and Mrs. Philla Reiley gave valuable assistance in organization guidance. Miss Kathy Deskin graciously typed this manuscript and helped with the editing. iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Professors Howard Clinebell and Paul Schurman were of great assistance to me in 1117 journey through the pastoral counseling program as intern, supervisor and consultant at the Pomona Valley Counseling and Growth Center affiliated with the School of Theology at Claremont. Much of this experience contributed to my professional growth and preparation for this study. I was honored to receive a grant from the Fund for Theological Education, Incorporated. This grant and the encouragement given by that Institution was a source of inspiration which enabled me to complete this dissertation. This financial assistance enabled me to complete this study. A unique blessing was the opportunity to have had contact with Dr. Harold G. Koenig, of the Duke University Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development. This work developed as a result of his suggestions regarding the need for further research in the field of aging. His letter of support and information regarding the questionnaires was helpful and a source of encouragement. Another of the blessings I am grateful for was the trust shown by the Department of Veterans Affairs Special Committees, specifically the Research and Development Committee and the Human Studies Committee of the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans' Hospital at Loma Linda, California. The approval of the study by these committees permitted access to the programs, the staff and the iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. patients. I am particularly grateful to the staff of the Special Physician Directed Rehabilitative Medicine Program for the Hospital Based Care Management Program. Mrs. Marty McGaughy, the Director of Claremont Manor of Claremont, California, a large senior residential facility, was very accepting of the study. She supported the process, and graciously permitted access to the residents. Emerson Village, a senior housing complex in the city of Pomona, California, permitted access to their residents. Mrs. Marion Fiasca was indeed a blessing, graciously coordinating this effort. She set up interviews and arranged publicity. I wish to acknowledge the many persons I have had the privilege of meeting during the course of this study, particularly those who came forward to be interviewed. I am also appreciative of the trust shown me by the churches, in particular St. Norbert Parish in Orange, California, which permitted access and opportunity to work with Mrs. Marge Richter, Director of Christian Service for the parish. Mrs. Richter headed a group of seniors known as the Young At Hearts. Mrs. Richter coordinated the event which invited the seniors to participate, and set up interview times and place. I appreciate the support of interested volunteers from Pilgrim Place of Claremont, California. Their journeys as pilgrims serving others and continuing to serve those around them was supportive for this study of older people. v Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. My former pastor/ Right Reverend Monsignor William J. Barry, parishioners and friends of Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Claremont, California, have given gifts of prayer which were a source of blessings for this work. My pastor, the Reverend Thomas Welbers, has been supportive and encouraging. Be is most interested in the development and creation of parish ministries to the sick, dying and grieving. My family, especially my late husband, Eugene, was consistent in their gifts of love and support. My sons, David, Valentine, and Eugene, and my daughter Mary, were consistent in their attitudes and expressions of love for their grandmother as she coped with the advanced age of 102 years with spirit, dignity and her faith in the Lord. This personal example of relatives within my family system led to inquiry regarding the experiences of other families relative to the ability to cope with the aging process, given the support that religious faith, beliefs and behaviors bring to the aging American of Judeo-Christian heritage. vi Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Chapter 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I Statement of the Problem............ 2 Changes in Life Expectancy .............. 8 The Impact of Increased Life Expectancy . . 9 The American Culture ................... 10 Religion........................... 11 Purpose of the Dissertation.......... 13 Limitations.......................... 13 Biblical References ..................... 14 Definitions of Terms ................... 16 Research Objectives ..................... 25 Research Questions ..................... 26 Subsidiary Question ..................... 26 Organization of the Dissertation ........ 26 2. Theology of the Study.................. 28 Theological Problems ................... 28 Theology and Pastoral Counseling ........ 33 The Influence of Other Theologians . . . . 42 3. Review of Relevant Research on Aging . . . . 53 Religion in Holistic Care............ 53 Gerontology and Religion ................ 53 Psychological and Developmental Theories......................... 55 vii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.