Spirituality and Coping with Vision Loss
by Mark Brennan, PhD
In recent years, there has been more attention given to religion and spirituality and their relationship to physical and mental health. As part of our ongoing studies on coping with, and adaptation to, vision impairment, researchers at Lighthouse International have been examining the role that spirituality and religiousness play in this process. Our research is not aimed at promoting religion or advocating a particular set of beliefs. Its purpose is to understand the importance of these resources for those who are adjusting to vision loss.
People express religiousness and spirituality differently, so it may help to explain how these terms are defined. Religiousness is adherence to the beliefs and practices of a particular denomination, creed or sect. In contrast, spirituality is one's sense of life's purpose and meaning, feelings of personal integrity, transcendence over one's immediate circumstances, and/or a feeling of being connected to the larger world.
People may or may not express their spirituality through formal religious practice. One research participant who does told us, "My church is my total support." Another related how church was important in coping with vision loss: "Now I have to wait for someone to bring me to church. That's what keeps me going. It gives me a lot of understanding and helps me deal with things." Others feel a sense of spirituality, but don't express it through organized religion. One individual commented, "I don't go to church. I can go to the mountains or to the ocean and sit there and something happens - I think it is religious. [This] something is bigger than myself."
Research Findings
Whether or not spirituality is expressed through organized religion, our research has found that it is a strong, positive factor in adapting to vision impairment in terms of psychological well-being. Those who reported high levels of spirituality in our study were less likely to feel sad or depressed compared to their peers. What can explain this finding?
One possibility is that spirituality can help in adjusting to challenges like vision loss because spiritual beliefs provide a sense of consolation, helping us to cope with life events by giving a sense of purpose and meaning to our experiences. Spirituality can also help to transcend our difficulties. One person told us, "The Lord will take me through all my trials and tribulations. I take one day at a time." Another person remarked, "That's my joy. You know I am not angry even because of my vision. I am still thankful I have life. My religion is important because it gives me strength and I am so frustrated." Another remarked, "I don't know what my strength is, but I have always been able to cope. I think faith has a lot to do with it." And in the same vein, one person told us, "I gained more strength in God. I learned that even without my vision I would still be all right because of my trust in God."
In line with this, prayer was frequently mentioned as a way of coping with vision impairment. One person told us, "I have a St. Anthony and [a] St. Theresa on my dresser to pray to that were given to me when I had my operation for cataract." Prayer was an important way of coping with vision loss, even for those who weren't necessarily religious. One person explained, "I, strangely, believe in God, but as far as the church goes, I don't participate in church drives or anything like that. Like with my poor vision, I pray to God and ask him to help me."
The Role of Religious Communities
The second way that spirituality may ease adjustment to vision loss is that people involved with religious congregations may have additional social support resources for coping with difficulties due to their impairment. Being helped by one's faith community was an important source of support for many people we interviewed, and over one-fifth of those who had a religious affiliation had received some type of congregation-based support.
The most frequent type of assistance received was emotional and spiritual support. An older woman shared, "Meeting with friends from the congregation is emotional support in and of itself. My sister has macular degeneration and she's very dependent on the congregation." Another individual remarked about how his congregation supported his feeling of connection to others: "There's a church nearby that I go to three or four times per week to hang with the guys, to play cards, checkers, etc. It helps me to keep in contact with people." However, some noted that their vision impairment was an obstacle to interacting with other members of their congregations, "[I have a] problem in church with people coming up to me. They have to introduce themselves because I don't immediately recognize or see their faces." And some older people with vision loss withdrew altogether from spiritual and religious activities because they didn't wish to be a burden to others.
After emotional and spiritual support, getting a ride or escort was the most frequently mentioned type of help received from religious communities. While this type of assistance was often for more general activities like shopping, it also helped many to continue their attendance at religious services. One person explained, "I used to go [to church] every day. Now I go on Tuesdays and Sundays - somebody comes and takes me." Another important type of help was receiving meals or assistance with food preparation and daily chores.
For some, just knowing that support was there if they needed it provided comfort. One person explained, "I've always been religious and received religious education. It's [religion] a great source of support. I don't use that support, probably others do." Another said, "I didn't need any help. They sent me letters asking me if I need any care but I don't. But when it comes to the point that I do need it, I'll take it." A third person told us, "[I] have not solicited help but I'm sure if I needed it, they would be there."
For many people with vision impairment, continued participation in their spiritual community may pose some additional challenges. Trouble with reading makes participation difficult; for example, being unable to read the program of services or take part in prepared prayers, responses or hymns. While many report they are able to follow the service "by ear," others find these difficulties so discouraging that they stop attending. For the 10-20% of older adults who have limitations in both vision and hearing, audio compensation for reading may not be possible and other creative solutions need to be developed. As one person explained, ". . . I go to mass upstate with my daughter but I can't hear anything . . ."
If you're unable to leave the house to attend religious services, participation in services broadcast over radio or TV is still possible. While this may not be the most preferred way of continuing your religious participation, it does allow you to maintain connections to religious traditions. One person told us, "I listen to the sermon on TV and pray to God."
"In the future, Internet technologies may be developed to allow for "distance" participation in religious services via a home computer. As the costs associated with such technologies continue to decrease, this option could allow many adults who are unable to travel to services another way of continuing to participate in their religious communities.
So what does this all mean? If spirituality has been a part of your life, it can be a great source of support and comfort in coping with vision loss. And, if it hasn't, you may find that seeking out faith-based groups can, at the very least, expand your social network and your involvement in community and leisure activities.
This article appeared in Sharing Solutions - Spring 2005 Edition
Mark Brennan, PhD, Senior Research Associate, Arlene R. Gordon Research Institute, Lighthouse International