背景與目的:過去國內針對台灣老人社會資本與健康之相關性研究,大部份皆採用橫斷式研究法,難以判斷其因果關係,且社會資本的測量範圍並不多元。故本研究將以社會信任、提供工具性社會支持、接受情緒性社會支持、接受工具性社會支持、社會參與這五個面向測量社會資本,以探討社會資本與自評健康之相關性。 方法:本研究採縱貫式世代研究法,資料來源為2003與 2007年之國健局「中老年身心社會生活狀況長期追蹤調查」資料庫,研究樣本為65歲(含)以上老人共1659人,研究以2003年之社會資本預測2007年的自評健康。以社會信任、提供工具性支持、接受工具性支持、接受情緒性支持、社會參與來測量社會資本,並控制年齡、性別等人口學變項及慢性疾病數、失能等健康狀況變項。研究分析以描述性統計、雙變項分析、線性迴歸進行。 結果:本研究發現,社會資本變項中提供工具性支持、接受情緒性社會支持及社會參與為自評健康之預測因子。有提供工具性支持者的自評健康比沒有任何提供者好,接受情緒性社會支持越多自評健康越好,社會參與越多者自評健康越好。 討論:本研究結果發現,應鼓勵高齡者多參與各類的團體與組織,從活動中增加人際關係的接觸,活絡彼此間的互動。同時家人的陪同與關懷能使他們感到被重視。建議政府能鼓勵成立老人相關並定期舉辦活動以增加高齡者參與,透過社區活動的參與,讓高齡者於活動中建立人際基礎並充實社會資本。
Background and Study Purpose: Most previous studies on the relationships between social capital and health conducted on Taiwan’s elderly population were either cross-sectional studies or used limited measures of social capital. Thus, the relationships between various domains of social capital and health remain unclear for Taiwan’s elderly population. This study examines the relationships between self-perceived health and five domains of social capital, including social trust, provision of social support, receipt of emotional and instrumental support, as well as social participation. Method: Data for this longitudinal cohort study came from 2003 and 2007 waves of the Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan. 1659 community-dwelling elders who were 65 or older in 2003 were included in the analyses. Five measures of social capital (social trust, receipt of emotional and instrumental social support, provision of instrumental social support, and social participation) were constructed from the question items. All models controlled for demographics, comorbidities, level of disability, and stress level. Multiple linear regression models were used for analysis. Results: Higher level of social trust, receipt of emotional support, and social participation were associated with better self-perceived health. Receipt of instrumental support was associated with worse self-perceived health. Discussion: To enhance health of the elder population, they should be encouraged to participate in more social activities and community empowerment programs so as to improve their inter-personal relationship and social support.