探討喪親佛教助念團志工之利他角色轉變經驗=A Study on the Changing Experiences of Altruistic Roles of the Buddhist Chanting Assistance Groups Bereavement Care for Survivors Volunteers
助念=the Buddhist Chanting Assistance Groups’ Bereavement Care for Survivors; 助念團志工=Volunteers in the Buddhist Chanting Assistance Groups; 喪親者=bereaved families; 利他=altruistic behaviors; 角色轉變=role transition
摘要
本研究旨在探討面臨喪親的生離死別時刻，家屬接受佛教助念之宗教關懷的受助經驗，進而投入擔任助念團志工為人助念服務，由受助者轉變為助人者歷程，以及在利他角色轉變歷程中所經歷的困境及因應策略。研究方法使用質性研究，以立意取樣方式邀約四位喪親助念團志工為研究對象，採用半結構深度訪談方式，研究結果如下: 研究發現助念團志工由受助者轉變為利他者的動機並不一定源自於宗教理念，更強力的動機是想要回饋喪親時幫忙的助念團志工們、分擔前輩的辛苦及個人時間允許之下加入助念團。喪親志工因為許多正向因子，如個人無私奉獻、信念堅強等特質、助念團服務中體驗意義與肯定、佛法信仰的支持等，逐步獲得成功經驗並學習到新的技能，經歷轉變而成為助人者。喪親志工在喪家參與低落，與期待有差距、家人與其他工作衝突時會感到壓力。適當的壓力及困境會讓志工視為挑戰，學習溝通及新技術、改變態度勇於承擔而形成自我調適因應及關懷連結。喪親助念團志工由受助者轉變為利他者的利他角色轉變模式與Allen & van de Vliert（1984）提出「角色轉變模式」（A model of role transition）具有相當程度的吻合。
This study aims to explore the experiences of bereaved families in receiving religious support from the Buddhist Chanting Assistance Groups’ bereavement care for survivors. It examines the process of transforming from assistance accepters into assistance givers after these bereaved families received the Buddhist Chanting Assistance Groups’ Bereavement Care and became dedicated to be a volunteer in the Buddhist Chanting Assistance Groups. Also, the dilemmas and corresponding strategies in the transition of their altruistic roles are discussed. The qualitative research method is used, with four volunteers in the Buddhist Chanting Assistance Groups chosen by Purposive Sampling and interviewed in a semi-structured in-depth way. The research results are as follows： The study found that the motivation for the volunteers in the Buddhist Chanting Assistance Groups to transform from an assistance acceptor into an assistance giver does not necessarily stem from the religious concept. What motivates them more is their wish to reward the friends from the Lotus Society who offered free mercy Amitabha Recitation when they were bereaved, to share their painstaking efforts, and to join the Buddhist Chanting Assistance Groups if time permits. Because of many positive factors such as personal selfless dedication and strong conviction, the experiences of gaining meanings and earning recognition, and the support of Dharma faith, they gradually gain successful experiences and learn new skills. With a process of role transition, they finally become assistance givers. Volunteers of Bereavement Care for Survivors feel stressed when bereaved families are unwilling to participate, when there is a growing disparity in expectation, and when there are conflicts with families and other jobs. Changing their attitudes and facing the music, they take appropriate pressure and dilemmas as a challenge, and learn communication skills and new techniques so that they can have self-adjustment and links with caring groups. It is found that the changing experiences of altruistic roles of the volunteers in Buddhist Chanting Assistance Groups tally with the mode of role transition put forward by Allen & van de Vliert (1984).
