This study aimed to identify how religious and spiritual practices are experienced at different ages during the aging process. The study was cross-sectional and observational and conducted in the city of Chapecó, SC, from July 2008 to January 2009. The sample included 2,160 individuals with 720 individuals interviewed in each age group. The analysis was univariate and obtained the absolute and relative frequency of each variable. The final data obtained were statistically analyzed with SPSS 13.0 software. It was observed that 77.6% of the respondents were Catholic and that the older individuals were more religious. A total of 50.6% of the respondents prayed once a day, 38.3% of them to offer thanks and 30.4% in the supine position. We conclude that religiosity is a valuable resource in coping with the crises of everyday life and positively affects physical and mental health, particularly in the elderly.
Religion; Spirituality; Aged; Aging
