삶의 의미가 노년기 행복과 건강에 미치는 영향: 청년기와 노년기의 비교를 중심으로 = The effect of meaning in life on happiness and health in late life

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Many studies have demonstrated that meaning in life plays a crucial role in wellbeing in late life. There has been little research, however, examining the relative important of meaning in life across ages. The goal of this study was to examine the effect of meaning in life on happiness and health in both younger adults and older adults. In particular, the relative importance of meaning was compared between younger and older adults. 203 college students (M=22.10) and 206 older adults (M=67.40) participated in this study. Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) was employed to measure the meaning in life and happiness (SHS), physical and psychological symptoms, sleep quality, health related behaviors (regular meal and exercise, frequency of drinking, and smoking) were measured. We found a positive relationship between MLQ and happiness both age groups. More importantly, the effect of MLQ on happiness and health (SHS, sleep quality, regular meal and exercise, smoking) was statistically stronger for older adults than younger adults. The implication for study were discussed.

국문 초록 (Abstract)

삶의 의미는 노년기의 행복과 건강에 중요한 역할을 한다. 그러나 기존 연구들은 삶의 의미가 미치는 영향력을 광범위하게 살펴보지 못하였고, 연령의 증가에 따른 삶의 의미의 중요성도 간과하였다. 이에 본 연구에서는 노년기에 경험하는 삶의 의미가 행복과 건강의 구체적인 영역에 미치는 영향력이 청년기와 비교하여 얼마나 강한지 알아보고자 하였다. 연구에 참여한 사람들은 총 409명으로 서울지역에 거주하는 20대 대학생 203명(평균연령: 22.10세)과 60대 이상의 206명(평균연령: 67.40세)이었으며, 설문 내용은 삶의 의미, 행복, 심리적․신체적 건강관련 불편증상, 수면 및 건강관련 행동(규칙적인 식사와 운동, 음주횟수, 흡연량) 등으로 구성되었다. 분석 결과 20대와 60대 이상 모두에게서 삶의 의미는 행복과 정적상관이 있었으나, 그 영향력 정도는 20대보다 60대 이상에서 더 강한 것으로 나타났다. 또한 20대에 비해 60대 이상에서 삶의 의미의 영향력이 행복을 포함하여, 수면의 질, 규칙적 식사 및 운동, 흡연량 정도에 더 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 결과는 삶의 의미의 영향력이 나이가 들어감에 따라 더 커지며, 특히 노년기 행복과 건강에 중요한 역할을 한다는 것을 시사한다.

참고문헌 (Reference)

1 원두리, "한국판 삶의 의미척도의 타당화 연구: 대학생을 대상으로" 한국건강심리학회 10 (10): 211-225, 2005

2 박군석, "한국사회에서 건강하고 행복한 성공노화 노인들의 사회심리적 특징" 한국건강심리학회 11 (11): 31-70, 2006

3 김동배, "한국 노인의 성공적 노화 척도 개발을 위한 연구" 한국사회복지학회 60 (60): 211-231, 2008

4 허지연, "청년기와 중년기 집단에서의 삶의 의미와 심리적 안녕감간의 관계: 자기효능감과 지각된 사회적 지지를 매개변인으로" 28 : 105-128, 2009

5 박금자, "중년여성의 삶의 의미와 영향요인" 8 : 232-243, 2002

6 김보라, "자아탄력성과 삶의 의미가 외상 후 성장에 미치는 영향: 의미추구와 의미발견의 매개효과" 한국상담심리학회 22 (22): 117-136, 2010

7 정주리, "의미발견을 통한 의미추구와 주관적 안녕감의 모형 검증: 문제해결 책임감과 긍정적 재해석을 매개로" 한국상담학회 8 (8): 1309-1321, 2007

8 최명심, "삶의 의미 수준이 자존감, 문제해결 인식도 및 부정적 평가에 대한 두려움에 미치는 영향" 한국건강심리학회 12 (12): 951-967, 2007

9 정미영, "삶의 의미 발견 과정이 안녕감에 미치는 영향: 불확실성에 대한 인내력 부족의 차이를 중심으로" 한국기독교상담심리치료학회 17 : 203-228, 2009

10 이지영, "노인의 죽음에 대한 인식" 한국노년학회 24 (24): 193-215, 2004

11 안영미, "노인의 삶의 의미와 자아존중감 및 정신건강과의 관계 연구" 12 : 575-585, 2003

12 이호선, "노인상담론" 공동체 2006

13 이선미, "노년기 부부의 외로움에 관한 연구" 한국노년학회 25 (25): 37-54, 2005

14 이수림, "나이듦과 지혜: 성공적 노화의 통합적 개념화" 한국문화및사회문제심리학회 13 (13): 65-87, 2007

15 Frankl,V.E, "What is meant by meaning" 7 : 21-28, 1966

16 Antonovsky,A, "Unraveling the mystery of health: How people manage stress and stay well" Jossey-Bass 1987

17 Fry,P.S, "The unique contribution of key existential factors to the prediction of psychological well-being of older adults following spousal loss" 41 : 69-81, 2001

18 Schnell,T, "The sources of meaning and Meaning in Life Questionnaire(SoMe): Relations to demographics and well-being" 4 : 483-499, 2009

19 Maddi,S.R, "The search for meaning, in Nebraska Symposium on Motivation" University of Nebraska Press 137-186, 1970

20 Bonebright, C. A, "The relationship of workaholism with work-life conflict, life satisfaction, and purpose in life" 47 : 469-477, 2000

21 Nicholson, T, "The relation between meaning in life and the occurrence of drug abuse: A retrospective study" 8 : 24-28, 1994

22 Shigehiro Oishi, "The meaning in life questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life" AMER PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOC/EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING FOUNDATION 53 (53): 80-93, 200601

23 Erikson, E. H, "The life cycle completed" 1982

24 Wong, P. T. P, "The human quest for meaning: A handbook of psychological research and clinical application" Erlbaum 1998

25 Maddi,S.R, "The existential neurosis" 72 : 311-325, 1967

26 Rook,K.S, "The evolution of social relationships in later adulthood, in Psychology and the aging revolution: How we adapt to longer life" American Psychological Association 173-191, 2000

27 Battista, J., "The development of meaning in life" 36 : 409-427, 1973

28 Steger, M. F, "The development and validation of the meaning in life questionnaire. Unpublished Manuscript" University of Minesota 2004

29 Ryff, C. D., "The contours of positive human health" 9 : 1-28, 1988

30 Buysse, D. J, "The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI): A new instrument for psychiatric research and practice" 28 : 193-213, 1989

31 Baum, S. K, "Source of meaning through the lifespan" 67 : 3-14, 1990

32 Reed,P.G, "Self-transcendence and mental health in the oldest-old adults" 40 : 5-11, 1991

33 Ryff,C.D, "Self-perceived personality change in adulthood and aging" 42 : 108-115, 1982

34 Skaggs, B. G., "Searching for meaning in negative events: Concept analysis" 53 : 559-570, 2006

35 Krause, N, "Role-specific control, personal meaning, and health in late life" 25 : 559-586, 2003

36 Lavretsky, H, "Resilience and aging" 3 : 309-323, 2007

37 Chamberlain, K., "Religiosity, life meaning, and well-being: Some relationships in a sample of women" 27 : 411-420, 1988

38 French, S, "Religiosity and its association with happiness, purpose in life, and self-actualization" 2 : 117-120, 1999

39 Bronk, K. C, "Purpose, hope and life satisfaction in three age groups" 4 : 500-510, 2009

40 Pearson, P. R, "Psychoticism and purpose in life" 10 : 1321-1322, 1989

41 Frankl,V.E, "Psychotherapy and Existentialism" Washington Square Press 1969

42 Butler,R.N, "Psychiatry and the elderly: An overview" 132 : 893-900, 1975

43 Tedeschi, R. G, "Posttraumatic growth: Conceptual foundations and empirical evidence" 15 : 1-18, 2004

44 King, L. A, "Positive affect and the experience of meaning in life" 90 : 179-196, 2006

45 Reker, G. T, "Personal meaning, stress, and health in older adults" Paper presented at the meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology 1990

46 Zika, S, "On the relation between meaning in life and psychological well-being" 83 : 133-145, 1992

47 Debats, D. L, "On the psychometric properties of the Life Regard Index (LRI): A measure of meaningful life" 14 : 337-345, 1993

48 Newcomb,M.D, "Nuclear attitudes and reactions: Associations with depression, drug use, and quality of life" 50 : 906-920, 1986

49 Baumeister,R.F, "Meaning of life" The Guilford Press 1991

50 Park, C. L, "Meaning making and growth: New directions for research on survivors of trauma" 11 : 389-407, 2006

51 Park, C. L., "Meaning in the context of stress and coping" 30 : 115-144, 1997

52 Debats,D.I, "Meaning in life: Clinical relevance and predictive power" 35 : 503-516, 1996

53 Ranst, N. V, "Meaning in life of young and elderly adults: An examination of the factorial validity and invariance of the life regard index" 22 : 877-884, 1997

54 Ebersole, P, "Meaning in life depth in the active married elderly" 123 : 171-178, 1989

55 Shigehiro Oishi, "Meaning in life across the life span: Levels and correlates of meaning in life from emerging adulthood to older adulthood" Routledge 4 (4): 43-52, 2009

56 Reker, G. T, "Meaning and purpose in life and well-being: A life-span perspective" 42 : 44-49, 1987

57 Frankl,V.E, "Man's search for meaning: An introduction to logotherapy" Washington Square Press 1963

58 Frankl,V.E, "Man's search for meaning" Hodder & Stoughton 1959

59 Wrosch, C, "Health stresses and depressive symptomatology in the elderly: A control-process approach" 13 : 17-20, 2004

60 Ryff,C.D, "Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being" 57 : 1069-1081, 1989

61 Reker, G. T, "Factor structure and invariance of personal meaning measures in cohorts of younger and older adults" 35 : 977-993, 2003

62 Debats, D. L, "Experiences of meaning in life: A combined qualitative and quantitative approach" 86 : 359-374, 1995

63 Yalom,I.D, "Existential Psychotherapy" Basic Books 1980

64 Havighusrt,R.J, "Development tasks and education" McKay 1972

65 Harlow, L. L, "Depression, self-derogation, substance use, and suicide ideation: Lack of purpose in life as a mediational factor" 42 : 5-21, 1986

66 Larsen, R, "Day-to-day physical symptoms: Individual differences in the occurrence, duration, and emotional concomitants of minor daily illnesses" 59 : 387-423, 1991

67 Ardelt,M, "Antecedents and effects of wisdom in old age: A longitudinal perspective on aging" 52 : 15-27, 2000

68 Crumbaugh, J. C, "An experimental study in existentialism: The Psychometric approach to Frankl's concept of noogenic neurosis" 20 : 200-207, 1964

69 Benson,P.L, "All kids are our kids: What communities must do to raise caring and responsible children and adolescents (2nd ed.)" Jossey Bass 2006

70 Reker, G. T, "Aging as an individual process: Toward a theory of personal meaning, in Emergent theories of aging" Springer 214-246, 1988

71 McMahan, E. A, "Age-related differences in lay conceptions of well-being and experienced well-being" 15 : 1-23, 2011

72 Lyubomirsky, S, "A measure of subjective happiness: Primary reliability and construct validation" 46 : 137-155, 1999