本研究主要的目的是探討機構內老年住民社會心理適應狀況及其影響因素。以方便取樣方式，由台中地區兩個護理之家和兩個養護中心，選取165名老年住民作為樣本。以結構性問卷於2006年4月到6月，以面對面個別訪談方式進行資料蒐集。問卷內容包含人口資料、入住狀況、生理功能狀況、生命價值觀、感受家庭的支持度、與適應量表測量。在適應狀態的測量量表包含三項適應面向：自我價值、歸屬感及持續性。研究結果發現，本研究對象多為女性，超過一半為寡婦，經濟上無法獨立，且30%為非自願入住。其在整體適應或者任何一個特定適應面向上，都未呈現高的適應分數。影響心理社會適應的主要因素包含入住經濟來源，是否為自願入住及入住後的室友數，共佔54%的解釋變異量。研究結果反映出自我決定、自主、及準備度對老人於機構適應的重要性。研究結果可作為護理處置及社會福利政策規劃的參考。

This cross-sectional descriptive study explored psychosocial adaptation and its determinants among elderly residents of long-term care facilities. A convenience sample of 165 elderly residents was recruited from two nursing homes and two assisted living institutions in the Taichung area. All residents who met the criteria for this study were interviewed individually from April through June 2006. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on participant demographic characteristics, admission conditions, functional status, perceived family support, life attitudes, and psychosocial adaptation. The adaptation inventory incorporated three aspects of adaptation, including (1) sense of self-value, (2) sense of belonging and (3) sense of continuity. Findings, in general, did not indicate participants had achieved a high level of overall adaptation or significant adaptation in any of the three aspects targeted. Most participants were female. More than half were widowed and unable to fully finance their own institutional care. Nearly one-third was not admitted voluntarily. Having adequate funding for admission, voluntary admission, and number of roommates were the three most influential factors affecting overall adaptation, explaining 54% of variance. Study findings reflect the importance to residents' adaptation of self-determination, autonomy, and pre-institutionalization preparation and are intended to provide guidance for nursing intervention and social welfare policy making.