Die verband tussen geestelike welstand en deelname aan fisieke, sosiale en intellektuele rekreatiewe aktiweite [sic] by bejaardes in Potchefstroom (ouer as 65 jaar)

Abstract

The relationship between spiritual well-being and physical, social and intellectual recreational activities of elderly people in Potchefstroom ( older than 65 years). Total health consists of a variety of components, notably the physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual dimensions. The spiritual dimensions is seen by some researchers as the unifying dimension or the avenue through which the other dimensions interact with one another. A high level of spiritual wellness (SW) is thus considered by some to be the basis for participation in physical activity, a healthy lifestyle and good health. With elderly people there is controversy whether recreational activity on a physical, social and intellectual basis has any effect on there spiritual/mental wellness. The aim of this study was to determine whether physical, social and intellectual recreational activities has any relationship with the mental wellness of elderly people. Secondly that if there is some kind of relationship it is independent of physical activity. The subjects of this study were 228 caucasian elderly male and female, 65 years and older from self-care units in old age homes in Potchefstroom, a city in the North-West Province in South Africa. Four old age homes were approached and only voluntary elderly people completed the questionnaires. Frequency of recreational activities were identified with the measuring instrument which were used by Scholtz et al. (1991:92), Scholtz et al. (1993:113), Scholtz et al. (1990:103), Scholtz and Scholtz (1993:78), physical activity was measured with the physical activity index (PAI) of Sharkey and spiritual wellness was measured with the spiritual wellness scale of Ellison. Elements of Sharkey and Ellison were both

evaluated by means of a one-way analysis of variance, the omega square and the effect size-calculation of Cohen. Participation in physical, social and intellectual recreational activities showed no statistical significant (p>0.05) relations with the spiritual wellness of elderly people. Out of twelve measured parameters only two contributed to the variance of spiritual wellness of elderly people. This contribution however was also not of statistical significance (p>0.05). With elderly female respondents PAI and income contributed mostly, though not with statistical significance (p>0.05). This then indicates that participation in physical, social and intellectual recreational activities does not have a statistical significant effect on level of spiritual wellness of elderly people as suspected previously. There seem to be a lack in understanding the real needs of elderly people and also how to purposefully build into their lives or satisfy those needs.