Adventure and Spiritual Restoration: Older Adult Motivations for Undertaking a Pilgrimage on El Camino de Santiago

Older adults who undertake pilgrimages on the Camino de Santiago experience profound transformations, countering narratives of aging as diminishment. A study of 111 participants aged 65 and over revealed five key themes: challenge and adventure, spirituality and intrinsic motivation, cultural or historical interest, recognition of life experiences and gratitude, and relationships. Nearly 42% were non-religious, while 57% identified as Christian or Catholic. The research, combining quantitative and qualitative survey methods, found that pilgrimage served as a catalyst for personal growth, ego integrity, and meaningful connections, aligning with life course and developmental theory. Limitations included snowball sampling, which challenges systematic recruitment.

Nelson-Becker, H., Pickard, J. G., & Sichling, F. (2023). Adventure and Spiritual Restoration: Older Adult Motivations for Undertaking a Pilgrimage on El Camino de Santiago. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 66(6), 822–838. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2023.2181906