本研究主要關注年長者心理老化議題，旨在探討年長者如何知覺到老、心理老化之現象及其因應。共計有8位65歲以上之年長者參與本研究，資料來源為每位研究參與者約2小時，合計共約16小時之個別訪談逐字稿。資料分析則採質性研究中現象學取向之資料分析方法來進行，研究結果如下：
一、年長者知覺到老的經驗
本研究發現年長者知覺到老的經驗包含「從生理層面知覺到老」、「從人際層面知覺到老」兩部分。
二、年長者心理老化之現象
本研究發現年長者心理老化的現象包含「情緒層面之現象」、「行為層面之變化」、「人我關係層面之現象」、「處事態度的改變」、「對存在議題的關注」、「對自我價值的關切」、「脾氣變溫和」、「生活模式之變化」等八部分。
三、面對心理老化年長者採取之因應
本研究發現年長者面對心理老化的因應策略包含「向內尋求之因應」、「向外尋求之因應」兩部分。
文末針對研究結果進行討論與建議。
This research addresses the issues of psychological aging of the elderly people, with an aim to explore how the elderly people perceive their aging, what the phenomena of their psychological aging are, and their coping strategies. A total of 8 people at the age above 65 years attended this research by devoting their time individually for 2-hour interviews for us to collect data, which consists of 16-hour interview recording scripts. The data analysis method adopts analytical approach in phenomenology in a qualitative research, and the result is outlined as follows:
1.The elderly people’s experience in their recognition of aging
Our research found out there are two aspects for the elderly to recognize they have been aged: From their physical energy and from their interactions with other people.
2.The phenomena of the elderly’s psychological aging
There are eight different aspects in the phenomena of the elderly’s psychological aging: Emotional needs, behavioral changes, interpersonal relationship changes, changes in the way of doing things, consciousness of existence issues, more attentions to self-worth, having a softer temper, and life style changes.
3.Coping strategies of the elderly’s psychological aging
This research concludes two aspects of coping strategies to manage the elderly people’s aging mentality: 1) seeking internal peace; 2) seeking outside resources
Finally, further discussions and suggestions are provided.
