Effect of belief in a Just world on daily living activities of nursing home residents

Abstract

Among people who are living in community homes for the aged, a psychological strategy to cope with daily living is belief in a just world. In this study our aim was to determine the relationship between old people’s belief in a just world (BJW) and the activities of daily living (ADL). We selected a sample of 253 cognitively able people aged 60 years and over who were living in a nursing home. We collected data through surveys using a translated and validated Arabic Self-Belief in a Just World Scale and an ADL instrument. No main or interaction effects were found for BJW and length of period of residence in the home on ADL. When using age as a covariate no significant difference was found. There was a pattern of an increased level of ADL for a longer period of residence and BJW.

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