| The construct of ego integrity and the intrinsic, extrinsic and quest types of religion were examined among older adults. Participating in the study were 88 persons, average age 82.65 years, mostly female (89%) and White (92%). Data were collected in two phases. Phase 1 consisted of the completion of a questionnaire, which included two Integrity scales (Boylin et al., 1976; Hawley, 1984), the Intrinsic and Extrinsic scales (Allport and Ross, 1967/1968f), the Quest, Internal, External and Orthodoxy scales (Batson et al., 1993) and demographic variables. Of the 12 hypotheses tested, the null was rejected in seven, using the.05 level of significance. Integrity was related directly to intrinsic religion and quality of life, and inversely to extrinsic and quest religion. Extrinsic religion was related directly to age and inversely to quality of life. When extrinsic religion was divided into extrinsic-personal and extrinsic-social subcomponents, extrinsic-personal proved to be related to integrity, age and quality of life. An eightfold typology of religious orientation, constructed with combinations of intrinsic, extrinsic and quest religion, showed differences in integrity among the various types. A factor analysis of the significant relationships among key variables revealed two factors. Factor 1 had high loadings on extrinsic religion, age and quality of life and was labeled Self-Solace, while integrity, intrinsic religion and quest loaded high for Factor 2, which was designated Self-Cohesion. In Phase 2, 10 in-depth interviews were conducted to provide clarification and amplification of the results from Phase 1. The composite picture of results from both phases of data collection seem to suggest that psychosocial development is supported by religious orientation in the integrity-despair dynamic. Among the healthy and young old, it appears that an intrinsic motivation and the drive toward integrity work in tandem to produce a strong and cohesive sense of self, along with a readiness to engage the world with meaningful and generative concern. However, as age increases and quality of life declines, self-cohesion may be supplemented by self-solace. There are preliminary indications in the data that extrinsic-personal religion provides comfort and serves to maintain a sense of self. The role of quest religion in later life appears less important, although it may afford solace for some frail elderly. |
