中年期於人生轉折過程所呈現之健康問題與因應

Adult Health Problems and Coping at Life Turning Points

中年期是人生中極為重要之轉折階段，隨著老化過程與激素分泌減少，引發諸多生理反應；家庭結構也因子女成長離家而改變，致使中年人在家庭與職場中之角色功能面臨極大衝擊，面對上述改變、衝突與失落，導致個體在自我概念、身體心像、生存目標與生命意義遭遇極大挑戰，也因此衍生許多身心疾病。如更年期憂鬱、物質濫用、焦慮症即為此階段之代表。然傳統之治療模式偏重醫療化，以抗鬱劑、鎮靜劑或賀爾蒙治療為主軸；由於療效有限，頻繁就醫問題仍持續存在，造成龐大的醫療支出與家庭生活困擾。本文將以文獻論述方式介紹中年期常見之身心困擾與治療方向，合併自然（健康）療法、認知治療與意義治療等模式，改善中年期個體於體能、自我概念、重建自尊與自信之成效，使其於克服身心困擾後再創活力。

At important life turning points, middle-aged adults face many physiological changes (e.g., aging, changes in hormone levels) and alterations in family structure (e.g., children growing up and leaving home). In addition to facing these changes and their impacts, adults must also take on challenges in terms of self-concept, body image, life goals, and life meaning. Illnesses that commonly occur during this life stage include menopausal depression, substance abuse, and anxiety. Traditional treatment models are medical-oriented, but curative effects are limited and hospital visits still occur at high frequencies, resulting in increased medical expenses and disruptions in family life. The authors review the current literature on curative models in this area, and discuss the potential of a combination of physical therapy, cognitive, and existential- humanistic therapy to improve patients’ physical strength, self-concept, self-esteem, and self-confidence in an effort to overcome physio-psycho-social disorders and to increase vitality.