Spirituality, among many other factors, may help promote healthy ageing

1. In this systematic review and synthesis of theoretical models, several intrinsic and extrinsic factors influenced healthy ageing (HA), including cognitive, psychological, physical, social, and environmental dimensions.

2. Furthermore, the influence of spirituality on healthy ageing occurred through its interdependence across other domains as well as its influence across the individual’s lifespan.

Evidence Rating Level: 1 (Excellent)

Healthy ageing (HA) has remained difficult to characterize given a lack of consensus regarding the multitude of concepts and definitions in the literature. To date, studies have not explored and synthesized the theoretical models related to HA, which poses barriers to research in the field. As a result, the objective of the present study was to systematically review the literature on HA, analyze the theoretical models relating to HA, and provide an overview of the dimensions and attributes of HA.

Of 10,741 identified records, 59 (n=65 models/definitions) studies from 16 countries in Europe, Asia, and America were included from various databases from 1960-2022. Studies were included if they had new theoretical definitions or models with a normative description of ageing. Studies were excluded if they were empirical models, operational definitions, or validations, if they investigated HA determinants and risk factors, or if they studied animal models. The review was performed using PRISMA guidelines. The primary outcome was concepts and definitions related to HA.

The results demonstrated that spiritual dimensions were included in 16 of the included frameworks related to HA. Spirituality played a role across the life course and was also related to subjective well-being. In addition to spirituality, HA was found to depend on various factors, with cognitive, psychological, physical, and social dimensions being included in most investigated frameworks. Despite these results, the study was limited by the exclusion of book chapters and non-peer-reviewed articles which may have limited the comprehensiveness of the review. Nonetheless, the present study adds several conceptual terms and dimensions to guide future research in HA.

Click to read the study in eClinicalMedicine

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