| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺灣師範大學 === 社會教育學系 === 95 === ABSTRACT
A Study of the Developmental Components in the Life-course of Middle-aged Adults, and their Relevant Influence Factors
Adviser: Professor Lin Mei-Ho
Researcher: Wang Ching-Hui
The main purpose of this study is to examine key developmental components in the life-course of middle-aged adults in Taiwan, and specifically exploring factors that potentially impact and/or predict events in these developmental components during the mid-life period. Based on a review of the relevant literatures concerning mid-life development, this study was conducted by means of a questionnaire, designed by the researcher, entitled "Developmental Issues in the Life-course of Middle-aged Adults." The subjects of the survey possess the following characteristics: 40 to 60 years of age, married with one or more children. The sample size is 296. The statistical principles of data analysis are frequency, percentage, mean, independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, and multiple regression. The main findings of the study are as follows:
1. According to a self-evaluation, the subjects are in a good health.
2. Four salient developmental components of middle-aged adults can be identified: health and leisure activities, marital and family life, interpersonal and social relationships, and work and career achievement.
3. The most important factor in explaining differences in life-course development is the subject's health status.
Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusions have been drawn:
1. Four key dimensions of life-course development identified above are truly important.
2. The core developmental component for middle-aged adults is marital and family life.
3. Factors that impact the four components for middle-aged adults include gender, age, educational background, type of occupation and health status.
4. Health status is the most important factor in predicting the developmental condition for middle-aged adults, and vice versa.
Based on the above conclusions, this study has proposed several recommendations:
1. Suggestions for middle-aged adults
(1) Focusing on the management of the four key developmental components.
(2) Balancing family life and professional achievement.
(3) Maintaining a sound state of health, in order to cultivate the energy needed for optimal development.
(4) Participating in learning activities which fulfill developmental needs.
2. Suggestions for adult educators
(1) Designing learning activities according to the above developmental components.
(2) Providing the varied programs and teaching styles based on middle-aged adults’ characteristics.
3. Suggestions for further research
(1) Expanding the scope of subjects to include middle-aged adults with a wider variety of marital statuses, as well as a different number of children.
(2) Employing methods other than a survey, such as interviews or meta-analysis.
(3) Adding other variables, such as marital status, geographical location of subjects, family income, number of children, learning conditions, and the timing of specific life events.
(4) Furthering studies such as mental and spiritual development, personality and emotional management, civic involvement, social responsibility, and career transition could be under consideration.
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