熟年期にある慢性病者のセルフケア能力と健康の関係

The Relationship Between the Self-Care Agency and the Health of Patients with Chronic Illness in Mature Adulthood

要旨

　本研究は，熟年期にある慢性病者のセルフケア能力と健康の関係を検討することを目的とした．研究デザインは相関関係検証型であり，セルフケア能力を査定する質問紙（SCAQ）と健康を査定する質問紙（HQ）を使用した．対象者は熟年期にある慢性病者250名であり，平均年齢は56.1歳（SD＝6.3）であった．

　セルフケア能力と健康は比較的強い有意な正の相関関係にあった（r＝.45，p＜.001）．セルフケア能力と比較的強い相関関係にあった健康の下位尺度は，充実感であった．また，健康と比較的強い相関関係にあったセルフケア能力の下位尺度は，健康管理法の獲得と継続，そして，健康管理への関心であった．セルフケア能力あるいは健康の得点に群間で有意差があった個人変数の各群で関係を検討した結果，主婦の群ではセルフケア能力と健康の有意な正の相関関係が支持されなかった．主婦の群では，セルフケア能力と体調の調整の得点が他群より有意に高かった．

　セルフケア能力と健康の比較的強い関係から，対象者のセルフケア能力と健康の両方に焦点をあてて関わることの重要性が示唆された．特にセルフケア能力と強い関係があった充実感は，セルフケア能力に向けた看護援助において重視する必要があるだろう．一方，主婦の群でセルフケア能力と健康の関係が支持されなかった背景には，更年期障害や主婦特有の憂鬱さという心身の不調があると推察された．主婦の群の体調の調整は過度となっているおそれがあり，留意する必要性が示唆された．

Abstract

　The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between the self-care agency and the health of patients with chronic illness in mature adulthood. It used a correlational research design and, as research instruments, a self-care agency questionnaire (SCAQ) and a health questionnaire (HQ). The subjects consisted of 250 individuals with chronic illness in mature adulthood. Their mean age was 56.1 years (SD＝6.3 years).

　A significant relationship was found between self-care agency and health (r＝.45, p＜.001). Relatively strong correlations were also found between self-care agency and a sense of fulfillment on the HQ, as well as between health and the ability to manage and display interest in one's own self-care on the SCAQ. In the housewife cluster, a significant correlation between self-care agency and health was not found, but there were statistically significant differences from other clusters in terms of both self-care agency and adjustment of physical conditions.

　The relatively strong correlation between self-care agency and health indicates the importance of focusing on both self-care agency and health in the case of chronically ill patients. On the other hand, it may be presumed that the lack of a correlation between self-care agency and health in the housewife cluster is connected to unease about their condition as represented in menopausal disorders and gloom about household chores. There is a risk that this may be excessively stressed in the adjustment of the physical conditions of housewives.