Satisfaction With Life, Coping, and Spirituality Among Urban Families. (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Doolittle, Benjamin; Courtney, Malachi; Jasien, Joan
• Is Part Of: Journal of primary care & community health. Volume 6:Number 4(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 256
• Page End: 259
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: primary care -- religion -- spirituality -- satisfaction with life -- coping -- urban; Primary health care -- Periodicals; Primary health care -- United States -- Periodicals; Community health services -- Periodicals; Community health services -- United States -- Periodicals; 362.12
• DOI: 10.1177/2150131915596961
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2150-1319

Abstract

Background: Urban families face many challenges that affect life satisfaction, including low income, limited access to resources, and unstable neighborhoods.Purpose: To investigate life satisfaction and identify potential mediators: neighborhood stability, emotional coping strategies, religion, and spirituality.Methods: A convenience sample of families presenting to an urban primary care clinic for routine care filled out an anonymous, voluntary survey that included demographic data, the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Spiritual Inventory and Beliefs Scale, and an emotional coping inventory.Results: 127 individuals filled out the survey. Life satisfaction was high (21.3 ± 9). Families in the lowest quartile of the SWLS were 4.5 times as likely to have a child with a chronic medical illness. SWLS correlated with strategy planning ( r = 0.24, P < .01), external practices of religion ( r = 0.23, P < .01), and humility ( r = 0.18, P < .05).Conclusions: Encouraging patients' involvement in religion and certain coping strategies, especially among those families coping with children with special health care needs, may improve life satisfaction.