老人互助團體的結果評估

本研究的老人互助團體處遇內涵，乃以綜合性晚年生活適應為主題，規劃結構性的系列單元活動，並採取準實驗設計和多元功能評估模式，評估是否對兩個實驗組老人的身心及社會功能達到預期的影響。評估指標包括團體成員生理層面的健康自評、心理層面的情緒狀況和自我概念、以及社會層面的社會支持等。研究發現實驗組松年團契成員的身體健康和情緖二者，均有顯著的增進，對於心理自我和親戚支持二者則有不達顯著的部份增進或緩衝維持的作用；實驗組長壽倶樂部成員的身體健康、情緒、整體自我和心理自我、社會自我、社區自我、和配偶支持、親戚支持、鄰居支持以及朋友支持等指標，亦均有增進或緩衝維持的作用。最後進一步討論研究發現在相關理論假設以及老人團體實務的意涵和限制。

This study evaluated the effectiveness of the mutual aid groups for the elderly using a quasi-experimental design. Based upon the multifunctional assessment model, the effects of group participation on specific aspects such as health, psychological well-being, and social support were systematically examined. The aims and the related group activities were concerning general problems of life adjustment confronted by most older people. The evaluation indicators included perceived health, depression, self-concept, and social support. The results showed that the members of experimental group I, the Evergreen Club, had significant improvement on their perceived health and depression, while the members of experimental group II, the Senior Club, also had positive and significant changes on their perceived health, depression, overall self-concept, psychological self-concept, social self-concept, community self-concept, and social support from spouse, relatives, neighbors, and friends. The intervention exerted both main effects and buffering effects on the improvement of the multifunction of the elderly. The implications and limitations of the results were further discussed on theoretical hypotheses and practice application.