「高齢者の生きがい」の概念分析

Worth Living of Elderly：A Concept Analysis

要旨

　本稿の目的は,「高齢者の生きがい」の概念の用法について分析し概念構造を明確化することである. Walker ＆ Avantの手法を用いた分析の結果, 概念の属性には「生きるために見出す意味や価値」と「生きることに対する内省的で肯定的な感情」が抽出された. 先行要件には「生きがいを追求する内在的な力」と「生きがいの源泉・対象」があり, 精神の安寧や継続させるための行動, 生活のはりあい等に帰結し, 観察資料には「生きがいの源泉・対象」および「生きがい感」が特定された. また, 併せて属性および先行要件を含んだモデル事例と関連概念であるサクセスフル・エイジングによる関連事例を示した. 老年期は, 身体機能や社会的役割の変化等により生きがい感を喪失しやすいものの再獲得できる力をもつことから,「高齢者の生きがい」の概念を活用することは, 看護をはじめとする各分野での高齢者支援対策の実践や研究に有用であると思われる．

Abstract

　The purpose is to clarify the concept 'worth living (IKIGAI) of the elderly' using the strategies for concept analysis proposed by Walker and Avant. Defining characteristics of the concept include meaning, value, and introspective and positive feelings for living. Antecedents are identified as resources and objects for worth living, and introspective power to seek after worth living, and consequences are identified as psychological stability and active life. Empirical references of the concept are resources/objects for worth living and worthy feeling. A model case and a related case based on a related concept 'successful aging' are also presented. This concept analysis showed that the elderly are able to regain worthy feeling, although they have a tendency to lose worthy feeling due to changes of physical function and social roles through aging process. Therefore, the concept 'worth living of the elderly' is useful for practices and researches in health science including nursing.