Life trajectory, historicity and anguish in the spiritual health of the long-lived older adult

Authors

  • Cecilia Ixel Mazatán Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, México
  • Raúl Fernando Guerrero Castañeda Universidad de Guanajuato, México
  • Tania Maria de Oliva Menezes Universidad Federal da Bahía, Brasil
  • Cinthia Elizabeth González Soto Universidad de Guanajuato, México

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.41.01.510.001

Keywords:

Spiritual health; long-lived older adult; Long-lived; Nursing; Heidegger.

Abstract

Objective: To understand the meaning of spiritual health from the perspective of life trajectory, historicity, and distress in long-lived older adults in northern Mexico. Methodology: Qualitative phenomenological study, carried out in Mexico during 2023 and 2024, long-lived older adults men and women were selected using a purposive sampling (n = 13), with the saturation criterion. A phenomenological interview was used, and analysis was performed using Heidegger's hermeneutic circle.  

Results: Two units of meaning emerged that contribute to the construction of the meaning of spiritual health in the long-lived elderly: life trajectory and historicity, through their beliefs, reflections, personality, and longevity; and anguish through longevity, with difficulties, spiritual illness, social incomprehension and distance from God.  

Final considerations: This meaning of spiritual health from the life trajectory of the long-lived older adult allows us to recognize the care of his spirituality throughout his life and its repercussions in the last stage of life to build his spiritual health. In addition, the meaning of this spiritual health from the life experience of the long-lived adult can forge the basis of a specific spiritual care of nursing in its holistic work in the care of the long-lived older adult. 

Author Biographies

Cecilia Ixel Mazatán, Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, México

Doctora en Ciencias de Enfermería, Universidad de Guanajuato. Docente, Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila. cecilia.mazatan@gmail.com. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3656-3986

Raúl Fernando Guerrero Castañeda, Universidad de Guanajuato, México

Doctor en Ciencias de Enfermería, Universidad de Guanajuato. Docente, Universidad de Guanajuato. drfernandocastaneda@hotmail.com. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3996-5208

Tania Maria de Oliva Menezes, Universidad Federal da Bahía, Brasil

Doctora en Enfermería, Universidad de Federal da Bahía. Docente, Universidad Federal da Bahía. tomenezes@gmail.com. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5819-0570

Cinthia Elizabeth González Soto, Universidad de Guanajuato, México

Doctora en Ciencias de Enfermería, Universidad de Guanajuato. Docente, Universidad de Guanajuato. gonzalez.ce@ugto.mx. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9720-5413 

Published

2025-04-01

How to Cite

Mazatán, C. I., Guerrero Castañeda, R. F., de Oliva Menezes, T. M., & González Soto, C. E. (2025). Life trajectory, historicity and anguish in the spiritual health of the long-lived older adult . Salud Uninorte, 41(1), 191–202. https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.41.01.510.001

Issue

Section

Original Article