醫院老年志工與對照組於身體功能表現及憂鬱程度之差異

The Differences of Physical Functional Performances and Depression Status between Elderly Hospital Volunteers and Controls

王靜怡(Ching-Yi Wang) ； 梁忠詔(Chung-Chao Liang) ； 謝清麟(Ching-Lin Hsieh) ； 陳拓榮(Tou-Rong Chen)

《台灣醫學》 9卷6期 (2005/11) Pp. 733-739

https://doi.org/10.6320/FJM.2005.9(6).03

摘要

老年人因為身體功能逐漸衰退及社會角色之改變，容易發生情緒上之調適不良，而引起退縮及憂鬱。許多文獻建議推廣老人參與志工活動，以避免老人發生負面情緒。本研究探討參與醫院志工服務者與無參與任何志工服務者（對照組老人），在身體功能表現及憂鬱程度上的差異。以檢定是否兩者在憂鬱程度及身體功能上有差異。我們首先於花蓮市某醫院收集70位的醫院志工，再至社區以性別、年齡（二歲以內）配對的方式，收集70位無參與志工服務的老人為對照組老人，對其身體功能及憂鬱程度進行評估及檢測。結果發現：醫院志工老人的憂鬱程度明顯低於對照組老人；身體功能表現方面，醫院志工老人在一般活動度及下肢功能性肌力兩項表現明顯優於對照組老人，其餘功能表現（含一般及快速步行速度、心肺耐力、平衡功能等）無顯著差異。本研究結果初步發現參與醫院志工服務的老人的憂鬱程度及部分的身體功能表現明顯地比對照組老人為佳，建議未來應針對參與各種志工服務對身體功能表現及憂鬱改善之因果關係進一步研究，以便對其中的機制有更深入的了解。

關鍵字

憂鬱 ； 老人 ； 志工 ； 身體功能表現

並列摘要

Due to decline in physical function and changes in social roles, the elderly are prone to the development of emotional mal-adaptation, leading to social withdrawal and depression. Participation in volunteer work has been recommended in the literature as a strategy for overcoming negative emotions. This study aimed to explore the differences in physical function and depression in individuals who were involved in hospital volunteer work and those who were not involved in any volunteer work (control group). First, 70 older adults engaged in volunteer work in a hospital in Hualien were recruited, and then those 70 individuals were gender and age (within 2 years) matched with non-volunteering older adults in a community center. All participants were tested on physical performance and depression. Our results indicated that the score of depression was significantly lower in those engaged in volunteer work, and two physical performances (TUG and timed 5-chair stand) were significantly better in the hospital volunteers than the control group. The causal relationship between volunteering and physical and mental health is worthy of further study.

並列關鍵字

depression ； elderly ； volunteer ； physical performance