OLD AGE, SPIRITUALITY & HAPPPINESS

Old age (also referred to as one's eld) consists of ages

nearing or surpassing the average life span of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle. Spirituality as a theme within religious and secular bodies, related to belief systems or philosophical attitudes, and directed at improving understanding of human behavior, the place of humankind including its origins and ultimate destiny, and reflection on human potential; Happiness is a state of mind or feeling characterized by contentment, love, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy. A variety of biological, psychological, religious, and philosophical approaches have striven to define happiness and identify its sources.

 To study the level of happiness amongst old age

persons. To study the spiritual quotient of old age persons. To study the relationship between spirituality and happiness amongst old age persons.

HYPOTHESES
The spirituality quotient will be positively correlated to the level of happiness. There will be no gender difference with respect to happiness amongst old age persons. There will be no gender difference with respect to spirituality amongst old age persons.

SAMPLE
A sample of 30 adults (comprising 16 females and 14 males 60-76yrs ) were taken. Convenient sampling was used.

MEASURES & TOOLS

Personal data sheet, The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire

developed by psychologists Michael Argyle and Peter Hills . Spiritual Quotient Test by Dr. Awdhesh K Singh .

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
Data were analyzed using Pearsons Product moment

coefficient of correlation and t test.

The value for correlation are presented in the table 1

whereas the values for mean, standard deviation and t are presented in table number 2 and 3.

Table 1 The coefficient of correlation between the spiritual quotient and level of happiness amongst the old age persons.
Dimension 1 Dimension 2 Pearson Correlation Sig. (Two Tailed)

Spirituality

Happiness

.535**

.002

** Correlation is significant at 0.01 level (two-tailed)

A perusal of the table 1 indicates significant positive correlation (r=0.535) between Spirituality and happiness amongst old age persons.

 Table2 Means, standard deviation, and t-ratio of

males and females for Spirituality Quotient

Scale Male Female t-ratio

Significant at 0.05 level

Spirituality 4.6936

SD

M
4.0925

SD
.48268 2.189 *

.97163

*Significant at 0.05level

Table 2 shows that there is significant difference between (t(30)=2.189. p<.05), male and female elders on spirituality quotient .

 Table 3 Means, standard deviation, and t-ratio of

males and females on Happiness Questionnaire

Scale

Male

Female

t-ratio

M
Happiness

SD

SD
0.108

81.7143

. 1526902

82.2500

11.84061

Table 3 indicates no significant difference between

male and female elders on the level of happiness.

CONCLUSION
As per the hypothesis, the relationship between

spirituality and happiness amongst old age persons was found positively related. As told in various religions, that this is the time when an individual completes all his duties and searches the truth of his existence. This is the moment he/she engages herself in the immaterial things and that leads to happiness. The significant difference between male and female elders on spirituality could be the result of socialization. There was no significant difference on happiness level between male and female elders.

LIMITATIONS
The study was conducted on old age persons

who were easily available. The sample size is small to generalize the findings.

IMPLICATION
Spirituality could be one of the path to happiness to success at old age. The psychological problems which could arise during old age due to loss of partner, empty nest, retirement and so on could be overcome through spirituality. This could also be used in geriatric counseling .

 Gorman M. Development and the rights of older

REFERENCE

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