Document Type

Presentation - Oral - to academic peers, less than or equal to 1 hour

Bold Promotion of Health Stewardship.

Department

Nursing

Date of Activity

Fall 9-29-2022

Abstract

Background: As adults age, there is heightened awareness of health and quality of life. Finding and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, specifically increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables promotes longevity as people age (Shi et al., 2015). Besides the food we eat, mental and spiritual practices have been shown to influence aging outcomes. Adults practicing regular meditation and/or spiritual practices showed patterns of brain change that are consistent with resistance to familial depression (Miller et al., 2013). Having a belief in God and a religious foundation has been found to be positive. Religious commitment was found to have a significant beneficial association with psychological well-being (Galak et al., 2015). This study examined adults’ perceptions of their health, volunteerism, and what they feel promotes their vitality.

Methods: This exploratory mixed method study used an online, convenience sample approach. Participants completed an online survey and some chose to participate in a recorded interview which was later transcribed verbatim. Researchers generated descriptive statistics from the quantitative data and noted patterns of responses with the qualitative survey open-ended responses.

Results: The sample (N = 662) consisted of adults in the US. A small majority (54%) of participants self-reported as either healthy or very healthy. Similarly, just slightly under half (49%) identified that they volunteer at a church, school, or healthcare environment. Qualitatively, when asked about what keeps them young and full of vitality, the categories that emerged included: exercise, healthy eating, keeping active, ample sleep, laughter, positive outlook, relationship with God/Christ, and relationships with others.

Conclusions: As adults age and baby boomers transition into retirement, health and wellbeing continue to be pertinent topics. As nurse educators it is our responsibility to empower our students, colleagues, and patients to boldly promote health stewardship.

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