高齡志工之幸福感研究

Abstract

本研究旨在瞭解高齡者從事志願服務與提升幸福感的相關性，探究促使其幸福感提升的主要影響因素及轉化歷程。

台灣正處於高齡化浪潮之中，高齡人口正急速上升。個人生命延長原是值得欣喜之事，但現代社會變遷快速，致使社會大眾及高齡者皆未能做好相關準備，而衍生出許多問題。高齡者越來越多，卻經常被從「問題」的角度思考，加上與現代社會科技及生活型態有落差，高齡者憂鬱症有上升趨勢。根據許多研究發現，社會參與對高齡者的身心皆有正向影響，其中志願服務更是「助人又樂己」。研究者進行本研究之動機，即試圖為高齡者尋找一條幸福的路徑，並為面臨高齡化與少子化雙重衝擊的台灣社會尋找人力資源。

本研究採建構主義取向的質性研究設計，除透過檢視相關文獻，對本研究理論基礎及現有研究進展進行理解之外，並以研究者編製之訪談大綱，深度訪談5位高齡志工，以得到高齡志工身心特質、投入志工動機、幸福感受，以及投入志願服務對幸福感影響與歷程的原始資料。研究者以逐字稿登錄所蒐集的原始資料，於詳讀文本資料後，進行資料分析與整理，並將研究發現與相關文獻進行綜合性討論。

本研究主要結論如下： ㄧ、高齡志工擁有成功老化與統整的人生。 二、高齡者參與志願服務動機在於「服務他人、成長自己」，高齡者 在利他服務過程中滿足個人內在需求。 三、高齡志工是終身學習的實踐者，擁有清楚的生活目標與方向，且 具有主動關心他人的特質。 四、從自我成長到圓滿幸福的人生，高齡者「當志工，更幸福」。This study aims at understanding the interrelation of senior citizens as volunteers and the promotion of their subjective well-being, and looking into the causes of the promotion of their subjective well-being and the transformative process.

Taiwan is in the waves of advanced age. The aged are on the drastic increase. Longevity is a joy. Yet the rapid change in the modern society makes the general public and the aged unable to make proper preparations, thus causing a lot of problems. The number of old people is growing, but often they are treated in terms of “problems.” Besides, due to the gap of modern technology and lifestyles, the aged who feel depressed are also on the increase. According to many researches, societal participations have a positive influence on old people. Among them, doing voluntary service means helping others and enjoying themselves as well. The motivation to do this study is trying to find an access to subjective well-being for old people, and meanwhile to look for human resources for Taiwan, which is faced with the strike of more senior citizens and fewer children.

This study is designed by constructivism theory. In addition to checking related information and engaging in acquainting with theoretic foundation, 5 aged volunteers were profoundly interviewed in order to know the first-hand information about their physical and mental traits, motivations, the influence and process of subjective well-being. The researcher recorded all the collected information in detail, analyzed, and organized it. Later, a comprehensive discussion about the findings and related information was held.

Conclusions: 1. They succeed in getting old and gaining a full life. 2. Their motivation lies in “serving others, developing themselves.” Their inner need gets satisfied in the process of helping others. 3. Aged volunteers are fulfillers of life-learning. They have a clear aim of living and direction, with a trait of caring others actively. 4. From developing themselves to leading a happy life, the aged feel even happier to be volunteers.