高齡者人格特質、生命意義與生活適應之關聯性研究

Relationships Among Personality Traits, Meaning of Life, and Life Adaptation in Older Adults

目的
隨著傳統家庭結構及功能上的轉變，高齡者在心理健康、生理功能日漸衰退，又即將面對個人的失落與死亡之議題。老年期階段若無法適應生活型態的改變，其個體將產生負面心理和情緒、人格情緒的轉變等。本研究在探討65歲（含）以上的高齡者對其人格特質、生命意義與生活適應之相互關聯性。
方法
以中部地區65歲（含）以上的高齡者為研究對象，採用問卷調查法，測量問卷包括「個人基本資料」、「人格特質」、「生命意義量表」、「生活適應量表」。經過IRB同意後，共發放300人，有效回收237人，有效回收率達79％。利用SPSS26.0進行統計分析。
結果
高齡者平均年齡為78.7±1.36歲，以女性169人（71.3％）、已婚154人（65.0％）、國小程度（含）以下87人（36.7％）、信仰佛教92人（38.8％）、經濟狀況普通167人（70.5％）、健康狀況普通110人（46.4％）最多。高齡者的人格特質為中上程度、生命意義為偏上程度、生活適應為中上程度。高齡者教育程度、經濟狀況、健康狀況在人格特質、生命意義及生活適應具有顯著差異。人格特質可透過生命意義達到對生活適應的間接效果。
結論
高齡者人格特質傾向樂觀、生命意義正向、生活適應良好。人格特質是透過生命意義來提高生活適應。鼓勵高齡者參與社區教育文化活動及創造高齡者就業機會，讓每位高齡者終有所養。

Purposes
With changes in traditional family structures and functions, older adults face mental and physiological health declines. Further, they are confronted with issues such as personal loss and death. If older adults fail to adapt to lifestyle changes during advanced age, it may have negative psychological and emotional impacts or change their personality. This study investigated the relationships among personality traits, the meaning of life, and life adaptation in older adults aged 65 years and above.
Methods
This study involved older adults ?:65 years old in central Taiwan. Questionnaire surveys were conducted, including ''basic personal information,'' ''personality traits,'' ''the meaning of life scale,'' and ''the life adaptation scale.'' After receiving approval from the institutional review board, the questionnaires were distributed to 300 individuals, out of which 237 valid responses were collected, at an effective recovery rate of 79%. These data were analyzed using SPSS Windows software version 26.0.
Results
The average age of the older adults was 78.7±1.36 years old. Most of the older adults were women (169, 71.3%), married (154, 65.0%), with elementary school education level and below (87, 36.7%), Buddhist (92, 38.8%), had average economic status (167, 70.5%), and reported normal health status (110, 46.4%). The average assessments for personality traits, the meaning of life, and life adaptation were moderate and above, relatively high, and moderate and above, respectively. Personality traits, meaning in life, and life adaptation assessments of older adults vary significantly by education level, economic status, and health condition. Personality traits can indirectly affect life adaptation by influencing one's perception of the meaning of life.
Conclusions
Older adults tend to have optimistic personality traits, a positive sense of the meaning of life, and good life adaptation, whereas personality traits improve life adaptation by affecting one's perception of the meaning of life. Therefore, older adults are encouraged to participate in community education and cultural activities. Furthermore, society should provide employment opportunities for them to be able to support themselves.