Online religious counseling for older adults
Studies have demonstrated the importance of online activities to wellbeing, especially in later life. The present study seeks to determine whether and how online religious counseling can improve the wellbeing of older believers. A six-month qualitative study was conducted with a group of Orthodox J...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Masaryk University
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberpspace |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://cyberpsychology.eu/article/view/12583 |
| _version_ | 1797248164436115456 |
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| author | Sarit Okun Galit Nimrod |
| author_facet | Sarit Okun Galit Nimrod |
| author_sort | Sarit Okun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Studies have demonstrated the importance of online activities to wellbeing, especially in later life. The present study seeks to determine whether and how online religious counseling can improve the wellbeing of older believers. A six-month qualitative study was conducted with a group of Orthodox Jewish older adults (N = 26, aged 70-96) who manifest various types of age-related distress. The participants were home trained to use a dedicated, accessible online platform featuring religious questions and answers (Q&A). Data were collected through netnographic observation, monthly online inquiry and in-depth interviews with counselees and counselors alike. Analysis indicated that online spiritual Q&A for the elders are characterized by unique content, types and styles of discourse. Their variety reflects the heterogeneity of needs, areas of interest and worldviews among older religious adults. Participation in online religious counseling provided them with numerous religious, intellectual and social rewards. At the same time, their counselors—six rabbis that volunteered in this project—gained religious, communal, professional and psychological benefits from the opportunity to share their knowledge and advice. Anonymity, asynchronicity, digital literacy and types of questions were identified as issues that may have opposite effects on the experiences of participants and counselors, respectively. Although some factors may delay and/or diminish positive contributions, involvement in online religious counseling appears to promote wellbeing in later life. This service is particularly beneficial to Orthodox older adults with detrimental health conditions whose use of online religious Q&A helps them cope with the difficulties they face and maintain their enjoyment of life.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T20:10:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b6acbcb115c54b7e9163131afa60b354 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1802-7962 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T20:10:14Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Masaryk University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberpspace |
| spelling | doaj.art-b6acbcb115c54b7e9163131afa60b3542024-03-23T13:13:28ZengMasaryk UniversityCyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberpspace1802-79622024-02-0114410.5817/CP2020-4-7Online religious counseling for older adultsSarit Okun0Galit Nimrod1Department of Communication Studies, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, IsraelThe Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Aging, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel Studies have demonstrated the importance of online activities to wellbeing, especially in later life. The present study seeks to determine whether and how online religious counseling can improve the wellbeing of older believers. A six-month qualitative study was conducted with a group of Orthodox Jewish older adults (N = 26, aged 70-96) who manifest various types of age-related distress. The participants were home trained to use a dedicated, accessible online platform featuring religious questions and answers (Q&A). Data were collected through netnographic observation, monthly online inquiry and in-depth interviews with counselees and counselors alike. Analysis indicated that online spiritual Q&A for the elders are characterized by unique content, types and styles of discourse. Their variety reflects the heterogeneity of needs, areas of interest and worldviews among older religious adults. Participation in online religious counseling provided them with numerous religious, intellectual and social rewards. At the same time, their counselors—six rabbis that volunteered in this project—gained religious, communal, professional and psychological benefits from the opportunity to share their knowledge and advice. Anonymity, asynchronicity, digital literacy and types of questions were identified as issues that may have opposite effects on the experiences of participants and counselors, respectively. Although some factors may delay and/or diminish positive contributions, involvement in online religious counseling appears to promote wellbeing in later life. This service is particularly beneficial to Orthodox older adults with detrimental health conditions whose use of online religious Q&A helps them cope with the difficulties they face and maintain their enjoyment of life. https://cyberpsychology.eu/article/view/12583old ageonline counselingQ&Areligionspiritualitywellbeing |
| spellingShingle | Sarit Okun Galit Nimrod Online religious counseling for older adults Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberpspace old age online counseling Q&A religion spirituality wellbeing |
| title | Online religious counseling for older adults |
| title_full | Online religious counseling for older adults |
| title_fullStr | Online religious counseling for older adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Online religious counseling for older adults |
| title_short | Online religious counseling for older adults |
| title_sort | online religious counseling for older adults |
| topic | old age online counseling Q&A religion spirituality wellbeing |
| url | https://cyberpsychology.eu/article/view/12583 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT saritokun onlinereligiouscounselingforolderadults AT galitnimrod onlinereligiouscounselingforolderadults |