中年人健康行為之探討

Health Behaviors of Middle-Aged Adults

中年期是由成熟過渡到逐漸衰老的多變階段。中年人除了身體功能逐漸衰退外，再加上家庭照顧責任及工作挑戰帶來的壓力，使得中年人的健康產生重大危機，也突顯健康行為對中年人的重要。然而也由於中年人正處於事業打拼的階段，沒有時間和動機來從事健康活動，或是為了應酬需要而使用菸、酒等危害健康的物質。中年人不運動、使用菸、酒、檳榔的比例比青少年和老年人為高，而有這些行為的，主要又是被視為是家庭支柱的男性。值得注意的是，中年人菸、酒、檳榔的使用有行為群聚的現象。因此，發展性別特定、能同時處理多種健康行為之措施、以及公共政策的強力介入是需要的，以提升中年人的健康行為，才能因應事業、家庭等中年生活的挑戰及壓力，並為老年的健康生活作好準備。

Middle age is the term used to describe the transition between early and late adulthood. Declining physical functions and increased stress resulting from family and work obligations create important health challenges among middle-aged adults, therefore maintaining good health behaviors is particularly important for members of this population. Work responsibilities make it particularly hard for many middle-aged adults to participate in health-related activities. The purpose of this paper is to integrate literature related to health behaviors of middle-aged adults to understand their behavior practice and characteristics. In Taiwan, middle-aged adults (especially male breadwinners) are more likely to use tobacco, alcohol, and betel nut, with these behaviors tending to be clustered. Genderspecific strategies for managing multiple substance use and abuse and better enforcement of public health policies are needed to promote positive health behaviors among middle-aged Taiwanese adults.