Role of spiritual experiences in shaping the quality of intergenerational relationships - exploring views of older adults in South India

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives To investigate how the older adults in India use spiritual thoughts and practices in their everyday lives to shape intergenerational care relationships and cope with challenges in such relationships. Methods Twenty-five qualitative interviews were conducted with older adults aged 55 to 85 years from two South Indian states from the diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis principles. Results The analysis shows that the spirituality of older adults shapes the quality of relationships with their kin. Participation in daily spiritual exercises such as prayer, chanting, self-reflection, and text reading help older adults develop personal resources such as a sense of peace, patience, acceptance, and forgiveness. This personal transformation helps older adults gain a stronger understanding of their kin and reduces pressure on the quality of intergenerational relationships in the family. They see spirituality as a vehicle, providing a structure for knowledge exchange, joint participation in religious events, and spiritual discussions with family members and others in the community. These experiences strengthen older persons’ emotional bonds with their families and help them develop larger social networks. Conclusion Spiritually inspired resources seem to help older adults to transform their disadvantaged position into a more rewarding and productive state.