Spiritual Health and Purpose in Life in Relation to Healthy Ageing among Older Adults: A Scoping Review Protocol

Introduction: Population ageing is accelerating globally, and the promotion of healthy ageing is a major global health priority. While research on healthy ageing has largely focused on biomedical determinants, there is growing recognition of psychosocial and existential factors, including spiritual health and purpose in life. However, evidence in this area remains fragmented and has not been systematically mapped within the World Health Organization (WHO) healthy ageing concept, as operationalized through intrinsic capacity and functional ability. Objectives: To map and synthesize existing evidence on how spiritual health and purpose in life are conceptualized and examined in relation to healthy ageing among older adults (aged ≥60 years). Methods and Analysis: This scoping review protocol was developed in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Manual for Evidence Synthesis. The protocol is reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) checklist (adapted for a scoping review protocol), and the conduct and reporting of the final review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Eligibility criteria are defined using the Population–Concept–Context framework. Searches will be conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection for English-language studies published between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2025. Two reviewers will independently screen studies and extract data using a standardized charting form. Data will be synthesized descriptively and mapped to WHO intrinsic capacity domains and functional ability outcomes, using predefined classification rules aligned with the WHO healthy ageing concept. No critical appraisal of individual studies will be undertaken. Ethics and Dissemination: Ethical approval is not required as this review will analyze publicly available literature only. Findings will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presentation at academic conferences. Registration: This scoping review protocol will be registered with the Open Science Framework (OSF).