The fact that old age is considered the final stage of life increases the frequency people think about life and death. During the aging process, cognitive, emotional and social resources are used to face unusual situations, which arise from the system of beliefs and values socially constructed and shared. Spirituality can be addressed in later life as a coping resource for adverse situations, formed by emotional and motivational aspects for searching meaning in life. This study aimed to assess the social representations of individuals aged 80 and older on spirituality. Interviews were conducted with 30 elderly matched by sex (age between 80 and 102 years old), living in Florianópolis city, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. A questionnaire was used to collect sociocultural and health data, so as to characterize the participants. Interviews were analyzed by descending hierarchical classification (CHD) and analysis by contrast using the software ALCESTE. The results point to two representations of spirituality in a male one, based on the idea of connecting with a higher, divine power or God, divorced from religion, and the other is female, based on the idea of transcendence of matter, a comprehensive part of life and religiosity.
Spirituality; Aged; Psychology Social; Social Group; Social Representation
