本研究旨在探討單身退休老人之非正式社會支持和身心健康，並探討其社會支持的關鍵因素和面臨的阻礙，以及對身心健康的影響。本研究採取質性研究法，以立意取樣的方式選擇7位臺灣北部地區65歲以上單身退休老人為研究對象，於2016年3月至5月間分別進行半結構式深度訪談，並採用SF-36健康量表測量研究對象自覺健康的情況。本研究以紮根理論 (grounded theory) 進行資料分析，根據蒐集之資料進行初始編碼、主軸編碼，與聚焦編碼，最後發展出核心主題，做為結論的依據。研究者採用三角檢定法作為信效度的評價方式。研究結果為：（一）單身退休老人非正式社會支持的來源以子女及親友為主。（二）單身退休老人受到的非正式社會支持種類，以情感性（情緒性）以及實質性（工具性）支持為主。（三）非正式社會支持的授受情況平衡與否可能影響退休老人之非正式社會支持關係。（四）影響單身退休老人的非正式社會支持主要關鍵包含，人格特質、家人關係、人際關係、經濟狀況、身體狀況與社會參與等因素。（五）非正式社會支持對於單身退休老人的身心健康有正向的助益。最後，根據上述結果，本研究針對單身退休老人、未退休者及未來研究提出相關建議。
The purpose of the study was to investigate informal social support and physical and mental health among single retirees. The study also aimed to research the elements and barriers of accessing informal social support as well as its impact to physical and mental health. The researcher recruited seven single retirees, who were 65 years of age and above and resided in the Northern Taiwan. Semi-structured in-depth interviews and SF-36 Health Survey were conducted between February and May in 2016. In the study, the research applied grounded theory method to analyze the data. Triangulation was implemented to enhance the credibility, reliability, and validity of the study. Results showed that, 1) single retirees received informal social support mainly from children, relatives and friends; 2) single retirees received emotional and instrumental social support mostly; 3) the balance between receiving and providing informal social support might affect single retirees’ social relationships; 4) personality, family relationships, interpersonal relationships, income, health, and social participations might affect single retirees’ informal social network; and 5) informal social support positively affect single retirees’ physical and mental health. Lastly, the researcher provided suggestions and recommendations for future studies based on the research findings.
