Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Aging Ment Health. 2020 Sep;24(9):1514-1522. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2019.1609903. Epub 2019 May 2.
Research evidence has demonstrated disparities and barriers associated with mental illness, which creates challenges for individuals with mental illness to maintain physical, mental, and social health as they age. The aim of this study was to examine the meaning of aging from the perspective of individuals with mental illness and explore their motivations and challenges to adopting healthy aging lifestyles and practices. Using a qualitative narrative inquiry approach, interviews were conducted with 61 aging patients with mental illness aged 40 and older in community and institutional settings in Hong Kong. Participants discussed the meaning of healthy aging in terms of meaningful occupation and use of time, and independence and autonomy. Motivating factors included a desire to avoid 'burdening' other people, to 'give back' to society, and gain back 'lost time'. These were connected to strategies for healthy aging, including social relationships and activities, spirituality, and healthy lifestyles. Challenges to adopting healthy aging practices included physical health difficulties and medication side effects, lack of purpose and boredom associated with daily routines and use of time, and conflicts and loss affecting family and peer relationships. Social and health services should be tailored to support aging individuals with mental illness and their families, addressing motivations and barriers to adopting healthy lifestyles. Promoting healthy aging practices to enable individuals with mental illness to achieve healthy aging is important for preparing for the aging of this population.
研究证据表明，精神疾病患者存在差异和障碍，这给他们在年龄增长过程中保持身体、心理和社会健康带来了挑战。本研究旨在从精神疾病患者的角度探讨衰老的意义，并探讨他们在采用健康老龄化生活方式和实践方面的动机和挑战。本研究采用定性叙事探究方法，对香港社区和机构环境中 61 名 40 岁及以上的老年精神疾病患者进行了访谈。参与者根据有意义的职业和时间利用、独立性和自主性讨论了健康老龄化的意义。激励因素包括避免“给别人添麻烦”、“回报”社会和“追回失去的时间”。这些因素与健康老龄化的策略有关，包括社会关系和活动、精神信仰和健康的生活方式。采用健康老龄化实践的挑战包括身体健康困难和药物副作用、日常生活和时间利用带来的缺乏目标和无聊感，以及影响家庭和同伴关系的冲突和失落感。社会和卫生服务应该根据个人的需要进行调整，以支持精神疾病老年患者及其家庭，解决他们在采用健康生活方式方面的动机和障碍。促进健康老龄化实践，使精神疾病患者能够实现健康老龄化，对于为这一人群的老龄化做好准备非常重要。
