高齢者の回想量とその関連要因について

Study on factors associated with quantity of reminiscence in elderly people

要旨：高齢者が日常経験する回想に，どのような要因が関連しているかについて検討を行った．対象は老人デイケアに通所する在宅老人で，痴呆がなくコミュニケーションに問題のない47名であった．47名に対して，8項目からなるLikert Scaleを用いて普段日常の中で行う回想の量を求め，うつ状態，死に対する態度，主観的幸福感，性格などの背景要因を面接と質問紙法により評価し，回想の量に関連する要因を重回帰分析によって検討を行った．

　その結果，回想の量に関連のある要因として死の恐怖，神経症傾向が抽出されたことから，高齢者の回想を評価していく際には，これらの要因も考慮に入れておく必要性のあることが示唆された．

　The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with the quantity of reminiscence by elderly people. The subjects included 47 elderly people living at home, who regularly used day- care services for the elderly, and had no problems in communications and mental deterioration. The quantity of reminiscence that the elderly people naturally engaged in was measured by using a Likert scale composed of eight items. Background factors, depressive state, attitude toward death, subjective well-being, and personality were evaluated via interviews or questionnaires. A multiple regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with the quantity of reminiscence. The results showed that the quantity of reminiscence was associated with fear of death/dying and neurotic tendency. These findings suggest that it is necessary to consider these factors in examining reminiscence.