公共溫泉浴室的文化價值與健康促進意涵-以四重溪溫泉⻑期使用者為研究對象

Cultural and Health Promotion Values of Public Hot Spring Bathhouses: Evidence from Long-Term Users at Sichongxi Hot Spring

台灣地熱資源豐富，自日治時期即形成獨特的公共温泉浴場文化。這些浴場兼具衛生改善與療養功能，並承載社區居民的生活記憶與情感依附。雖因家庭浴室普及與商業温泉產業發展，公共浴室逐漸式微，但部分地區如屏東四重溪温泉仍維持免費公共浴池，持續受到居民與遊客喜愛。尤其在高齡化社會下，公共浴室的健康促進與社區凝聚價值更顯重要。本研究以四重溪公共浴室為場域，探討長期使用者對健康促進之認知。研究方法結合文獻回顧、半結構式訪談及現地觀察，隨機訪談30位長期泡湯者，觀察其在生理、心理與社會層面的感受。結果顯示，受訪者普遍認同長期泡湯具有助益，尤以心理放松、情緒平衡、血液循環、關節舒緩與皮膚保養最受肯定。泡湯亦被視為社交與情感支持的重要活動，使公共浴室成為生活不可或缺的場域。然而，對於預防心血管疾病或静脈曲張等醫療效果，多數受訪者抱持保守態度，顯示其理性區分保健與治療的界線。綜合而言，公共溫泉浴室不僅是洗浴設施，更是健康促進、社區連結與文化保存的重要資源。本研究補足文獻對公共浴室使用者經驗的不足，並提出設施改善、管理模式與政策支持建議，期盼其未來能持續發揮多重價值。

Taiwan is rich in geothermal resources, and since the Japanese colonial period it has developed a unique culture of public hot spring bathhouses. These facilities not only improved hygiene and provided therapeutic benefits, but also carried the collective memory and emotional attachment of local communities. Although the prevalence of private bathrooms and the growth of commercial hot spring industries have led to the gradual decline of public bathhouses, some areas, such as the Sichongxi Hot Spring in Pingtung, still maintain free public pools that remain popular among residents and visitors. In the context of an aging society, the health promotion functions and community cohesion value of public bathhouses have become increasingly important. This study takes the Sichongxi Public Bathhouse as its research site, focusing on long-term users’perceptions of health promotion. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining literature review, structured and unstructured interviews, and field observations. Thirty long-term bathers were randomly interviewed to examine their experiences from physiological, psychological, and social perspectives. The results show that respondents generally acknowledged the benefits of long-term bathing, particularly in psychological relaxation, emotional balance, blood circulation, joint relief, and skincare. Bathing was also regarded as an important social and emotional support activity, making the public bathhouse an indispensable part of daily life. However, with regard to medical effects such as preventing cardiovascular disease or varicose veins, most respondents remained cautious, reflecting a rational distinction between wellness and clinical treatment. In conclusion, public hot spring bathhouses are not merely bathing facilities but important resources for health promotion, community bonding, and cultural preservation. This study fills a gap in the literature on public bathhouse users’experiences and offers recommendations for facility improvement, management strategies, and policy support, with the aim of sustaining their multifaceted values in the future.