当代老年人精神赡养的内涵及其特征维度

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1041.2025.2131

摘要/Abstract

摘要： 随着我国老年人群物质生活水平的提升, 其精神需求愈发凸显, 精神赡养已成为应对当代人口老龄化的重要议题。然而, 当代老年人精神赡养的内涵、特征维度及其测量工具仍缺乏系统探讨。本研究结合理论分析与实证研究, 深化对精神赡养机制的理解。通过质性访谈、扎根理论分析及问卷调查, 探讨老年人精神赡养的核心构成。结果表明, 精神赡养涵盖5个维度：健康保障(安全感)、人际交往(归属感)、文化活动(胜任感)、独立自由(自主感)、存在意义(价值感), 并据此编制测量问卷。通过3项实证研究, 累计调查1354位老年人, 验证了问卷的信效度, 明确了精神赡养的5个特征维度, 并证实其对老年人身心健康的长期预测作用。综上, 本研究明确了我国当代老年人精神赡养的内涵及结构, 提供了老年人感知精神赡养的有效测量工具, 为后续理论研究及实践干预提供了实证依据。

关键词: 精神赡养, 精神需求, 老年人, 身心健康

Abstract:

In recent decades, the material and economic conditions of China’s elderly population have steadily improved, shifting attention toward their higher-level needs, particularly spiritual well-being. With the rapid growth of the aging population, spiritual support has become a critical yet often overlooked issue in gerontology, social policy, and health promotion. While there is broad recognition of the importance of spiritual care for older adults, the academic literature still lacks a clear conceptual framework, well-defined characteristic dimensions, and validated measurement tools for spiritual support. Moreover, the mechanisms through which spiritual support affects the health and quality of life of elderly individuals remain insufficiently understood. Addressing these gaps is essential for both advancing theory and guiding the design of effective interventions and policy initiatives in the context of contemporary China.
This study sought to establish a comprehensive understanding of spiritual support for the elderly by combining theoretical analysis with empirical research. A mixed-methods approach was employed across three sequential studies. In Study 1, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with elderly individuals and their caregivers to explore perceptions, experiences, and expectations of spiritual support. These interviews were analyzed using grounded theory to generate an inductive model of spiritual support, leading to the identification of its core dimensions. Based on these findings, a preliminary measurement scale was developed. In Study 2, a large-scale survey involving 1 117 elderly participants was conducted to validate this scale. The results confirmed the factor structure, internal consistency, and construct validity of the instrument, establishing it as a reliable tool for assessing perceived spiritual support. In Study 3, a longitudinal survey of 237 older adults examined the predictive role of spiritual support on health-related outcomes over time, thereby testing the practical significance of the proposed framework.
The analyses revealed that spiritual support for elderly individuals comprises five key dimensions: health security (sense of security), social interaction (sense of belonging), educational activities (sense of competence), independence (sense of autonomy), and meaning in life (sense of value). Together, these dimensions capture the multifaceted nature of spiritual support in the Chinese cultural and social context, integrating both individual needs and broader social relationships. The newly developed measurement scale based on these dimensions demonstrated strong psychometric properties across different samples. Furthermore, the longitudinal findings indicated that higher levels of perceived spiritual support significantly predicted positive health outcomes, including improved physical and mental quality of life, reduced frailty, and better cognitive functioning. These results highlight the protective and promotive role of spiritual support in aging, extending beyond immediate psychological benefits to long-term well-being.
This research makes several contributions. Theoretically, it clarifies the concept of spiritual support and identifies its characteristic dimensions, providing a foundation for future studies in gerontology, psychology, and social work. Methodologically, it develops and validates a culturally sensitive measurement tool that enables the systematic assessment of spiritual support among older adults in China. Practically, the findings underscore the necessity of incorporating spiritual support into community services, caregiving practices, and public policy. By demonstrating the substantial long-term effects of spiritual support on both physical and mental health, this study provides strong empirical evidence to inform interventions and strategies aimed at enhancing the overall well-being of older adults.

Key words: spiritual support, spiritual need, older adults, physical and mental health

中图分类号:

范云歌, 马紫娟, 林玮诗, 张瑞, 王东方, 范方. (2025). 当代老年人精神赡养的内涵及其特征维度. 心理学报, 57(12), 2131-2148.

FAN Yunge, MA Zijuan, LIN Weishi, ZHANG Rui, WANG Dongfang, FAN Fang. (2025). The concept and dimensional characteristics of spiritual support for older adults in contemporary China. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 57(12), 2131-2148.

图/表 11

参考文献 52

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分组	居家养老		机构养老
分组	频数	占比	频数	占比
性别
男	16	50.0%	3	15.0%
女	16	50.0%	17	85.0%
年龄(岁)
60~69	24	75.0%	1	5.0%
70~79	5	15.6%	4	20.0%
≥ 80	3	9.4%	15	75.0%

分组	居家养老		机构养老
分组	频数	占比	频数	占比
性别
男	16	50.0%	3	15.0%
女	16	50.0%	17	85.0%
年龄(岁)
60~69	24	75.0%	1	5.0%
70~79	5	15.6%	4	20.0%
≥ 80	3	9.4%	15	75.0%

访谈对象	访谈内容
老年人	您的精神需求主要包括什么?
	您认为当代对老人的精神赡养应该包含哪些方面?
	结合您目前状态, 您希望从哪些方面获得更多精神慰藉?
老年人子女	您认为当代对老人的精神赡养应该包含哪些方面?
	作为子女, 您认为从哪些方面关心和照顾父母会使父母心理上更能得到慰藉?
	还有哪些方面是您父母得到精神赡养的重要来源?
照护人员	您认为当代对老人的精神赡养应该包含哪些方面?
	养老机构从哪些方面关心和照顾老人会使老人心理上更能得到慰藉?
	还有哪些方面是老人得到精神赡养的重要来源?

访谈对象	访谈内容
老年人	您的精神需求主要包括什么?
	您认为当代对老人的精神赡养应该包含哪些方面?
	结合您目前状态, 您希望从哪些方面获得更多精神慰藉?
老年人子女	您认为当代对老人的精神赡养应该包含哪些方面?
	作为子女, 您认为从哪些方面关心和照顾父母会使父母心理上更能得到慰藉?
	还有哪些方面是您父母得到精神赡养的重要来源?
照护人员	您认为当代对老人的精神赡养应该包含哪些方面?
	养老机构从哪些方面关心和照顾老人会使老人心理上更能得到慰藉?
	还有哪些方面是老人得到精神赡养的重要来源?

序号	开放式节点编码	参考点 (个)	主轴编码 (范畴)	选择性编码 (三级编码)	序号	开放式节点编码	参考点 (个)	主轴编码 (范畴)	选择性编码 (三级编码)
1	日常健康照料	15	医护需求	健康保障 (安全感)	35	给予尊重	26	存在价值	存在意义 (价值感)
2	日常身体状况	5			36	生存意义	8
3	就近医疗	4			37	家长角色	7
4	便利取药	3			38	给予重视	4
5	医疗场所志愿服务	1			39	被需要感	1
6	医疗质量	1			40	生活寄托	1
7	医疗保障	8	政策福利		41	劳动价值	7	自我价值
8	生活保障	3			42	志愿价值	6
9	长护保险	3			43	外貌价值	3
10	社区关怀	1			44	表演价值	2
11	医疗措施	1			45	奉献价值	1
12	医疗养护一体化	7	医养结合	独立自由 (自主感)	46	学习价值	1
13	居住空间自主性	12	空间自由		47	教学价值	1
14	随心出行	8	外出自由		48	子女陪伴	19	亲密关系	人际交往 (归属感)
15	请假出行	1	外出自由		49	子女日常看望	13
16	自主生活	12	选择自由		50	亲人陪伴	6
17	饮食自由	9			51	子女联系	6
18	生活选择自由	4			52	子女生病看望	4
19	时间自由	1			53	子女特殊节日看望	2
20	言论自由	1			54	子女照顾	1
21	活动开展多样化	21	周边活动	文化活动 (胜任感)	55	子女鼓励	1
22	团体活动	9			56	夫妻陪伴	1
23	免费或低价活动	5			57	邻居交往	11	朋友关系
24	专业人员授课	3			58	工作人员交往	7
25	关怀活动	2			59	熟悉朋友交往	5
26	开设课程	2			60	同龄人交往	2
27	街道活动	1			61	热闹集体	3	集体交往
28	个人活动	1			62	社区关怀	1	集体交往
29	活动经费支持	1			63	外人交往	16	泛泛之交
30	外出旅行	12	外出活动		64	接触新朋友	7
31	需要活动场所	17	活动场所		65	语言需求	1
32	老年活动中心	4			66	与他人内心倾诉	5	内心倾诉
33	老年大学	1			67	专业人员倾诉	3	内心倾诉
34	佛堂场所	1			合计		362