The Work of Faith Care: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis on the Role of Spirituality and Religion in Diabetes Self-Management Among Black Older Adults in the Greater Toronto Area

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore how faith and spirituality influence diabetes self-management among older Black adults with type 2 diabetes. Methods: The researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 21 older Black adults (ages 55+) living with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes in the Greater Toronto Area. Guided by Van Manen’s interpretive phenomenology and analyzed thematically using NVivo, the researchers examined lived experiences through 4 lifeworld themes: corporeality, spatiality, relationality, and temporality. Results: Four themes emerged: faith as inner strength (spiritual resilience), sanctuaries of the soul (sacred spaces for healing), guided by faith (faith in relationships and community), and faith through time (spiritual continuity and hope). Faith helped participants manage stress, regulate emotions, sustain self-care, and strengthen social and familial bonds while providing hope across the course of illness. Conclusion: Spirituality serves as a multidimensional resource in culturally responsive, person-centered diabetes care. Integrating faith-based perspectives into interventions can foster more holistic, contextually grounded approaches that enhance well-being and long-term adherence to self-management.