Spirituality Index Of Well-Being Research Articles

Psychometric testing of spirituality index of well-being for Chinese hospice volunteers

ABSTRACT Although developed to measure spiritual well-being, the Spirituality Index of Well-Being (SIWB) has not been validated in Chinese hospice volunteers. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of SIWB in 218 hospice volunteers recruited from three hospice care providers in mainland China. Principal components analysis (PCA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to analyse the factor structure of SIWB. Cronbach’s alpha and the Average Variance Extracted (AVE) were calculated to evaluate the internal consistency and convergent validity of SIWB. This study confirmed the original two dimensions (i.e. self-efficacy and life scheme) of SIWB. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the entire scale and the two subscales were greater than 0.92 indicating good internal consistency. The AVE values of 0.64 and 0.73 for the two subscales indicated an acceptable level of convergent validity. Overall, the Chinese SIWB demonstrates good reliability and validity among Chinese hospice volunteers.

The Relationship Between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Spiritual Well-Being Levels of COVID-19 Among Elderly: A Cross Sectional and Correlational Study.

The aim of this research is to relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and spiritual well-being levels during Covid-19 among elderly. This study was conducted with cross-sectional and corrational design. The research was conducted between January and June 2021 in Turkey's Eastern Anatolia Region. Introductory Information Form, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-Short Form (IUS), and Spirituality Index of Well-Being (SIWB) were used to collect data. The research was completed with 302 volunteers who met the following inclusion criteria. All participants belong to the Muslims. A negative significant correlation was found between IUS and SIWB; that is as the spirituality of the elderly individuals increased, the levels of intolerance of uncertainty decreased. It is recommended to identify the fears and intolerances of elderly individuals. For uncertainty, it is necessary to refine their spirituality. For this, it is recommended to organize spiritual education programs.

The Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Spiritual Wellbeing Scale of a Sample of Students from Iraq and Algeria

The current study aims at confirming the factor structure of the Arabized image of the SPIRITUALITY INDEX OF WELL BEING scale through the confirmatory factor analysis. The study was conducted on a sample consisting of (187) students (male and female) at the level of the two universities of Anbar in Iraq and Saida in Algeria. To achieve the aims of the study, a descriptive approach was used based on the scale of the quality of spiritual wellbeing: Spirituality Index of Wellbeing by Daaleman & Frey (2004) and translated by researchers. The confirmatory factor analysis of the translated Arabic version of the Scale was conducted on the study model that has found out, according to the results of the analysis, that the model has a good fit. The study recommends the necessity of paying attention to the issue of the spirituality of the students.

Spiritüel İyilik Ölçeği’nin Türkçe Geçerlilik ve Güvenilirlik Çalışması

Objective: The study's goal was to determine the validity and reliability of the Spirituality Index of Well-Being by adapting it to Turkish in accordance with the methodological research type. Methods: This study was conducted on 107 elderly people who applied to four family health centers in the Kars province's center between May 2017 and January 2018 and met the research criteria. A written permission was obtained from the index's creator, the ethical committee, the institution, and individuals. Tools such as the "Introductory Information Form" and the "Spirituality Index of Well-Being" were used to collect data. Results: For the language validity of the index, expert opinions were taken, and a factor analysis was performed for construct validity. According to explanatory factor analysis, it was found out that the index demonstrates a two-factor construct and factor values are in an appropriate range, and according to confirmatory factor analysis it was determined that the two-factor construct of the index is valid and the fit values are appropriate. It was found out that the Cronbach alpha coefficient is 0.858 and total item score correlation coefficient takes value above 0.44. Conclusion: The Spirituality Index of Well-Being was determined to be a valid and reliable assessment instrument for Turkish society. As a result, it was determined that the scale can be used in clinical practices and research to assess the spiritual well-being of elderly individuals in Turkish society.

Predicting Love Trauma Syndrome in College Students Based on Personality Traits, Early Maladaptive Schemas, and Spiritual Health

Objectives: Love Trauma Syndrome (LTC) is common among college students which can lead to psychological and educational problems. The current study aims to assess the role of personality traits, early maladaptive schemas and spiritual health in predicting LTC in college students. Methods: This is a descriptive/correlational study. Participants were 500 students of universities in Tehran, Iran suffering from LTC who were selected using a cluster random sampling method. They completed the Love Trauma Inventory, HEXACO Personality Inventory, Young Schema Questionnaire- Short Form, and Spirituality Index of Well-Being. Data analysis was performed using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in LISREL software. Results: The SEM results showed the good fit of the study model (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation= 0.043). Personality traits, early maladaptive schemes, and spiritual health could predict LTC. Extraversion, emotionality, honesty-humility, self-sacrifice, abandonment, and life schema were the strongest predictors. Conclusion: Personality traits, early maladaptive schemes, and spiritual health can predict LTC.

Faktor yang Memengaruhi Kualitas Hidup Pasien Paska Bedah Pintas Arteri Koroner

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) is aimed to improve the quality of life among post-CABG patients, there exist a large number of patients having a low level of quality of life. The study aimed to analyze factors that influenced the quality of life among post-CABG patients. The descriptive study was conducted using cross-sectional analysis with a consecutive sampling of 80 post CABG patients in Hasan Sadikin Hospital from 20 May-30 June 2019. Data were analyzed using multivariate linear regression. The independent variables in this study included age, gender, education level, pain, mental health, social support, spiritual well-being, and cardiac rehabilitation. The data were collected using three questionnaires which included Short-Form 36 (SF-36) to measure patient-reported pain, mental health, and the quality of life; Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) to provide information about the role of social support; and Spirituality Index of Well Being (SIWB) designed to measure the spiritual well-being of the patients. The results showed four factors had significantly influenced the quality of life among patients after CABG. The factors included age (p-value<0,001; r=0,521), pain level (p-value<0,001; r=0,666), mental health (p-value<0,001; r=0,426), and social support (p-value<0,001; r=0,345). Pain factor had the most significant effect on the patients (r=0,497). Pain could cause a stress response that influenced the recovery stage which eventually impacted the quality of life. This study implies that the management of post-CABG patients could be performed by applying pain and stress management in discharge planning.

Intervention Effect of Group Reminiscence Therapy in Combination with Physical Exercise in Improving Spiritual Well-Being of the Elderly.

Background:To explore the intervention degree and improvement effect of group reminiscence therapy in combination with physical exercise on spiritual well-being of the elderly after the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic.Methodology:In 2020, overall, 130 elderly people were selected from communities in Xiangtan City and Changsha City of Hunan Province, China and randomly divided into two groups, with 65 people in each group. One group was the experimental group that participated in the exercise intervention for 8 weeks as the objects of group reminiscence therapy intervention in combination with physical exercise. The other group was the control group that listened to 4 routine health lectures. Spirituality Index of Well-Being, ULS Loneliness Scale and Brief Resilience Scale were used to evaluate the effect of the intervention.Results:Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between the experimental group and the control group, but after 8 weeks of exercise intervention, the score of loneliness was lower in the experimental group than in the control group (P<0.05), the scores of spiritual well-being and resilience were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (P<0.05); and the differences before and after the intervention were significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion:Group reminiscence therapy in combination with physical exercise could improve spiritual well-being and mental health of the elderly.

Can spirituality and long-term orientation relate to workplace identity? An examination using SEM

PurposeThe interconnections and relationships of workplace identity with a few organizational behavior concepts such as job involvement, commitment and turnover intentions have been identified by earlier studies. The present study was undertaken to find out the relationship of workplace identity with long-term orientation and spirituality.Design/methodology/approachSEM was performed using Python, on a sample of 365 respondents, using three validated questionnaires. The questionnaires used for the study were Spirituality Index of Wellbeing (SIWB), Long-term Orientation (LTO) Scale and Workplace Identity Scale.FindingsResults indicated significant positive relationship between workplace spirituality and workplace identity, as well as LTO and workplace identity. No significant relationship was observed between LTO and workplace spirituality.Originality/valueAn in-depth review of literature revealed that no previous studies have examined the complex relationship between workplace spirituality, LTO and workplace identity. Further, there are only few studies about the workplace identity and its relationship with other constructs. The present work was a modest effort to fill this gap in literature. The study has succeeded in making significant contribution towards management literature.

Analysis of the Sociodemographic and Psychological Factors of the Family Caregivers’ Self-Management Capabilities for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction: The successful management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus is determined by the role of the family in self-management as a family caregiver. Many factors influence the capability of the family caregivers to carry out diabetes self-management. The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors that influence the family caregiver capability of performing diabetes self-management in people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods: The study design was an analytical observation using a cross-sectional approach. The sample was 220 family caregivers of people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus in Jember Regency, East Java Province, Indonesia. The multistage random sampling technique was used as the sampling technique. The research instrument was a questionnaire. The questionnaires used in this study were the Diabetes Management Self Efficacy Scale, the Spoken Knowledge in Low Literacy Patients with Diabetes Questionnaire, the Motives for Caregiving Scale, the Spirituality Index of Well-Being, the Sense of Coherence Scale, the Coping Scale, the Hensarling Diabetes Family Support Scale, and the Family Caregiver's Perception of the Role of the Nurse Questionnaire. The data analysis was performed using the Pearson correlation test, the Spearman rank test, and the multiple linear regression test.Results: The results of the Pearson correlation test and Spearman rank test showed that the sociodemographic factors associated with diabetes self management were age (p=0.000), gender (p=0.016), education (p=0.000), income (p=0.000), and kinship (p=0.000). The psychosocial factors associated with diabetes self management were diabetes knowledge (p=0.000), motivation (p=0.000), coping skills (p=0.000), spirituality (p=0.000), family coherence (p=0.000), family support (p=0.000) and the role of the nurses (p=0.000). The multiple linear regression test showed that the factors associated with diabetes self management were diabetes knowledge (β=0.047), motivation (β=0.094), coping (β=0.188), spirituality (β= -0.082), family coherence (β= −0.043), family support (β= 0.296) and the role of the nurses (β= 0.512).Conclusion: Efforts to increase the family caregiver’s capabilities in terms of diabetes self-management should pay attention to the socio-demographic and psychosocial factors to prevent complications and to improve the health status, and quality of life of people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Development and validation of the Spirituality Instrument-27© (SpI-27©) in individuals with chronic illness

AimTo develop and validate the Spirituality Instrument 27 (SpI-27©) in individuals with chronic illness (n = 249). BackgroundA need for a rigorously developed spirituality instrument that can be used with people who are religious and non-religious was identified. MethodsThe initial 46-item instrument was developed from a concept analysis, a review of theoretical and empirical literature, and an appraisal of instruments measuring spirituality. Content validity was established with user focus groups and an expert panel review. A pilot study evaluated the online mode of administration and a descriptive correlational design assessed the reliability and validity of the instrument. ResultsResults of exploratory factor analysis concluded a five-factor solution with 27 items: Connectedness with Others, Self-Transcendence, Self-Cognisance, Conservationism, and Connectedness with a Higher Power. Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged from 0.823 to 0.911 for the five factors, and 0.904 for the overall scale. Paired t-tests, intra-class correlations, and weighted kappa values supported the temporal stability of the instrument. A significant and positive correlation was found between the SpI-27© and the Spirituality Index of Well-Being (p < 0.01), supporting convergent validity. ConclusionsFindings support the validity and reliability of the SpI-27©, which was developed with patient input and is underpinned by theoretical and empirical literature. The SpI-27© should be validated for use with other samples. The conceptual framework that guided the study can be used to enhance healthcare professionals' understanding of spirituality and its core dimensions.

Personal resources and flexibility in coping with stress depending on perceived stress in a group of cancer patients

BackgroundCancer is a highly stressful life event. It requires the employment of new coping skills and strategies. Flexibility in coping with stress plays an important role in this case. The aim of the study was to assess the role of personal resources in shaping the flexi-bility in coping with stress among cancer patients depending on the level of perceived stress.Participants and procedureOne hundred eight patients suffering from cancer were surveyed. The following methods were employed: the Resiliency Meas-urement Scale by Ogińska-Bulik and Juczyński, the Adult Hope Scale by Snyder, the Spirituality Index of Well-Being by Daaleman and Frey, the Flexibility in Coping with Stress Questionnaire by Basińska and team and the Global Measure of Per-ceived Stress by Cohen, Kamarck and Mermelstein.ResultsThe results demonstrated a positive correlation between all considered personal resources and flexibility in coping. Both resiliency and spiritual well-being enable one to predict 23% of variability of flexibility in coping. Cluster analysis revealed that the group of patients with a generally higher level of personal resources was characterised by greater flexibility in all its dimensions. However, stress levels did not modify the relationships between personal resources and flexibility in coping.ConclusionsThe results encourage the planning of psychological interventions aimed at the development of personal resources among cancer patients, and warrant further research.

Determinant Factors of Depression in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

Depression has been related to poor quality of life and recurrence in CHD patients. It is important to explore factors associated with the depression to prevent problems and to assist with appropriate intervention. Furthermore, the determinants of depression in CHD patients in Indonesia are still unknown. This study aimed to identify the determinants of depression in CHD patients in Indonesia. This study was a quantitative study with a cross-sectional approach. Samples were recruited from outpatient care in a referral hospital in Bandung using a consecutive sampling technique for a-2 month period (n=101). Data were collected using a questionnaire package consisting of a demographic questionnaire, Beck Depression Index [BDI] (II), Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale, Seattle Angina Questionnaire, and Spirituality Index of Well-Being. Data were analyzed using mean, frequency distribution, chi-square and logistic regression analysis. In terms of its association with depression in CHD patients, low spiritual well-being had the highest odds ratio [OR] (OR = 9.3, 95% CI = 2.968 - 29.451, p &lt;0.01); non-anxious state and medication history had low ORs (sequentially OR = 0.2, 95% CI = 0.067 - 0.644, p &lt; 0.01; OR=0.2 95% CI = 0.062 - 0.772, p &lt; 0.01); PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) with medication had the lowest OR value (OR = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.002 - 0.278, p &lt;0.01). On the other hand, unmarried status and male gender were identified as confounding variables. Low spiritual well-being was a major predictor of depression in CHD patients, whereas no anxiety, and history of medication, consist of CHD medication and reperfusion therapy contributed to a lower risk of depression. It is recommended to include strategies in improving spiritual well being and managing anxiety to reduce the risk of depression among CHD patients.

Comparative Study Of Self-Transcendence, Spiritual Well-Being, Optimism And Meaning In Life Among Retirees And Post-Retirement Employees.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the inter-correlations of self-transcendence, spiritual well-being, optimism and meaning in life. Additionally, the aim was to find out the differences in mean scores of self-transcendence, spiritual well-being, optimism and meaning in life between retirees and post-retirement employees. The sample consisted of people with bachelor’s degree. Retirees sample consisted of 60 participants (52 men, and 8 women), while post-retirement employees consisted of 60 participants (all of them were men). The Self-Transcendence Scale (STS) (Reed, 2018), The Spirituality Index of Well-Being (SIWB) (Daaleman & Frey, 2004), The Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) (Scheier, Carver & Bridges, 1994) and Meaning in Life Questionnaire (Steger, Frazier, Oishi & Kaler, 2006) were used. The data were analyzed with Pearson correlation. The t-test was used. Findings indicated that there were significant positive correlations between self-transcendence, spiritual well-being, optimism and meaning in life. Self-transcendence correlated positively with spiritual well-being, optimism, and meaning in life. Spiritual well-being correlated positively with optimism and meaning in life. There were differences in mean scores of self-transcendence, optimism and meaning in life between retirees and post-retirement employees. However there was not difference in spiritual well-being between the two groups. Findings were discussed and conclusion was included.

Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of Spiritual Index of Well-Being in elderly Taiwanese

BackgroundSpiritual well-being has become an increasingly important issue for the elderly people. The 12-item Spirituality Index of Well-Being (SIWB) is a well-validated instrument for assessing a patient’s current spiritual state. However, the psychometric properties of the SIWB in the Chinese elderly populations are not known. Therefore, this study translated the SIWB into Chinese and evaluated its psychometric properties.MethodsThe English version of the SIWB was first translated into Chinese based on the Brislin’s translation model. The psychometric properties of the translated version of the SIWB (SIWB-C) was evaluated in 416 elderly Taiwanese recruited using a purposive sampling procedure from a medical center, a long-term care institution, and a community health center. Convergent validity was accessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficients of the SIWB-C, the EQ-5D-3 L health-related quality of life scale, and the Geriatric Depression Scale-5 (GDS-5). Exploratory factor analysis with Varimax rotation was performed to determine the construct validity. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted for verification of the quality of the factor structures and demonstrating the convergent validity of the SIWB-C. An internal consistency test based on the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and a stability test based on the Guttman split-half coefficient were also performed. Test-retest reliability was evaluated with intraclass correlation coefficient.ResultsExploratory factor analysis confirmed the original two-dimensional structure of the scale. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a well-fitting model and a fine convergent validity of the SIWB-C. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and the Guttman split-half coefficient for the SIWB-C were 0.94 and 0.84, respectively. The correlations between the SIWB-C with EQ-5D-3 L and GDS-5 were 0.22 (p < 0.01) and 0.45 (p < 0.05), respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient of the SIWB-C over a test-retest interval of two weeks was 0.989.ConclusionsThe SIWB-C was found to be a potential useful measure of subjective spiritual well-being in elderly Taiwanese. Its application in assessing the spiritual well-being in Mandarin-speaking elderly population warrants further investigation.

Social media addiction and psychological adjustment: religiosity and spirituality in the age of social media

ABSTRACTPrevious research indicates a significant association between social media use and psychological adjustment. The present study investigated whether religiosity/spirituality mediates the relationship between social media intrusion and psychological adjustment. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, Religious Commitment Inventory-10, Spirituality Index of Well-Being, the DASS-21 Scales, and the Facebook Intrusion Questionnaire, which was altered slightly to include all types of social media. Results revealed that social media intrusion was significantly positively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress, and negatively correlated with spiritual well-being and the self-efficacy component of spiritual well-being. Furthermore, the self-efficacy dimension of spiritual well-being partially mediated the association between social media intrusion and psychological stress. From these results, it may be inferred that higher social media intrusion may have the ability to decrease specific aspects of spirituality, which may, in turn, negatively impact psychological adjustment. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

Evaluation of using the Chinese version of the Spirituality Index of Well-Being (SIWB) scale in Taiwanese elders

PurposeSpirituality and spiritual well-being have emerged as important indicators for one's quality of life and health outcomes. Nursing as a profession is concerned with a holistic approach to improve health and overall well-being. To evaluate the outcomes of holistic nursing interventions, using valid and reliable instruments to assess spiritual well-being becomes necessary. There is a lack of instruments for measuring spiritual well-being in Chinese populations. Little has been known about the feasibility of using the Spirituality Index of Well-Being (SIWB) in Taiwanese elders. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the uses of the translated Chinese version of the Spirituality Index of Well-Being (SIWB-C) with Taiwanese elders. MethodsA total of 150 individual who were 65 years old or older and living in southern Taiwan were recruited from a public community center. A four-step procedure was used to translate the English version of the SIWB to the traditional Chinese language. Internal consistency, factor analysis, and correlation coefficient were conducted to evaluate the reliability and validity of the SIWB-C. ResultsThe SIWB-C demonstrated a high internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha .95. The construct validity of SIWB-C was supported by factor analysis and by significant correlations with its subscales and the CES-D scale. ConclusionThe psychometric analysis indicates that the SIWB-C is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring spiritual well-being. This instrument provides a feasible and valid approach for assessing Taiwanese elders' spiritual well-being in the future.

PRO-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR IN RELATION TO NARCISSIM AND SPIRITUALITY AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

The current study explored pro-social behavior in relation to narcissism and spirituality among university students. The study also explored differences on the basis of different demographic variables i.e., ageand gender. The sample comprised of 300 university students (n=150, n =150) from a university in Pakistan, using convenience sampling technique. The assessment tools for datacollection werePro-social tendencies measure (PTM), Spirituality index of wellbeing (SIW), and Narcissism personality inventory (NPI). To find out the relationship of pro-social behavior with narcissism and spirituality, Pearson product moment correlation was computed. The resultindicatedsignificant positive relationship between PTMand SIW, whereas negative relationship between narcissism and spiritualitywas found.t-test was applied on data in order to view the difference between pro-social behavior, narcissismand spirituality on the basis of gender among university studentswhichwas indicatedsignificant.The association between age and the three study variable (PTM, SIW and NPI) was found to be significantly positive. This study will be implacable for the psychologist working on personality development and in the field of positive and social psychology.

Measuring active ageing among older adults in Singapore

ABSTRACTActive Ageing is conceptualised to measure the extent to which older people remain actively engaged with life. However, there is no evidence that the concept of Active Ageing is actually associated with the activity levels of older persons. Influences of age, ethnicity and spirituality on Active Ageing are also unexplored. Using the Active Ageing Index (AAI), this study examines whether the level of Active Ageing predicted the actual activity level of 120 Singaporeans of Chinese, Malay and Indians ethnicities, aged 55–64 years old or 65 years and above. Spirituality, measured by the Spirituality Index of Well-Being, was added to the AAI, to see if the predictive power of AAI improved. Hierarchical multiple regression showed that the AAI alone (controlling for age) did not significantly predict the activity level of older persons. The predictive power of the AAI improved significantly with spirituality included. Two-way between-groups Analysis of Variance revealed main effects of age and ethnicity, with higher AAI in those aged 55–64 and in Indian-Singaporeans. These findings suggest that the theoretical construct of Active Ageing needs further examination to identify the domains that distinguish it from chronological age, and support broadening the construct by including spirituality in Active Ageing.

Randomized controlled trial of a six-week spiritual reminiscence intervention on hope, life satisfaction, and spiritual well-being in elderly with mild and moderate dementia.

Reminiscence therapy has been reported to improve the well-being in patients with dementia. However, few studies have examined the effects of spiritual reminiscence, which emphasizes on reconnecting and enhancing the meaning of one's own experience, on patients with dementia. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of spiritual reminiscence on hope, life satisfaction, and spiritual well-being in elderly Taiwanese with mild or moderate dementia. A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 103 patients with mild or moderate dementia recruited from a medical center in central Taiwan. The patients were randomly assigned to either a 6-week spiritual reminiscence group (n = 53) or control group (n = 50). The Herth Hope Index, the Life Satisfaction Scale, the Spirituality Index of Well-Being were administered before and after the 6-week period. The interaction terms between group and time for the three outcome measures were found to be significant (P < 0.001), indicating that the changes over time in them were different between the intervention and control groups. Findings of this randomized controlled trial showed that hope, life satisfaction, and spiritual well-being of elderly patients with mild or moderate dementia could significantly be improved with a 6-week spiritual reminiscence intervention.

Diet and Lifestyle Associations of Stress in Two Older Adult Communities

Chronic stress negatively affects wellness, and is associated with chronic disease in older adults. Certain lifestyle factors such as a healthy diet and religious/spiritual involvement have been found to mitigate stress and improve health outcomes. We investigated stress and other wellness measures in financially secure male and female older adults, 蠅65 yrs old and without debilitating physical or mental impairment, living in a vowed Catholic community (VCC) or an independent retirement community (IRC). We hypothesized that participants living in a cloistered religious environment would experience less stress and have a higher level of wellness than those living in a cohesive secular environment. Study assessments included questions about lifestyle, the Perceived Stress Scale‐10, Geriatric Depression Scale‐15, Spirituality Index of Well‐Being, a 24‐hr dietary recall, and non‐invasive physical measurements. Mann‐Whitney U tests revealed no significant differences in age, gender, BMI, macronutrient intakes, blood pressure, stress or spirituality between the groups (p values&gt;0.05); moreover, the VCC group reported less weekly leisure physical activity (p=0.044), higher percent body fat (p=0.025), higher heart rate (p=0.029), more depression (p=0.020), and lower vitamin C intake (p=0.045) than IRC participants, thus our hypothesis was rejected. Regression analyses indicated that spirituality (β= ‐.347, p=0.002), vitamin D intake (β= ‐.271, p=0.014), and daily sweets intake (β= .216, p=0.046) were significant partial predictors of stress in this population and accounted for 50% of the variance in stress scores. Our results suggest that perceived stress in older adults may be attenuated by certain lifestyle practices in any communal environment.