A Consideration of the Connection between Welfare Problems and Social Work in Farming and Mountain Village Areas : Present Conditions in Farming and Mountain Villages and the Potential for Social Work

中山間農山村地域における福祉的課題とソーシャルワークとの関連に関する考察 : 「農村ソーシャルワーク」という可能性

A Consideration of the Connection between Welfare Problems and Social Work in Farming and Mountain Village Areas : Present Conditions in Farming and Mountain Villages and the Potential for Social Work

Creators Takaki Takeshi

本稿は、中山間地域、なかでも地理的条件に恵まれず、高齢化と人口減少といった課題面が取り上げられることの多い農山村に焦点をあてた。まず、農山村に関する研究動向を概観した。近年のソーシャルワーク研究においては、中山間地域の高齢者の生活問題に注目した研究がある。中山間地域、とくに農山村に暮らす人びとの生活の構造や、福祉的課題の支援に焦点をあてたソーシャルワーク実践に関する調査研究の必要性が明らかになった。その結果、農山村に暮らす人びとの暮らしに焦点をあてたソーシャルワーク実践についての研究の土台的な観点、つまり、ここでは、“農村ソーシャルワーク”と措定するが、その観点から、農山村におけるソーシャルワーク実践について調査研究を通じて考えていく可能性があることを構想した。今後の課題として、農山村に暮らす人びとの暮らしの支援に焦点をあてたソーシャルワーク実践に関する調査研究の必要性が明らかになった。

This study focuses on farming and mountain villages which are not lessed in terms of geographic location, and in which the population is aging and declining. Firstly, this study is a survey of existing research into farming and mountain villages, and confirms that, in the field of sociology, there are already studies showing the present conditions in such villages. However, studies in the field of social welfare relating to farming and mountain villages have mostly focused on historical aspects. Moreover, recent social work studies have focused on the lifestyle issues faced by elderly people in mountain village areas. As a result, this study highlights the potential for social welfare studies focusing on practical social work for supporting the daily life of people in farming and mountain villages. A topic for further consideration is to clarify the necessity for this kind of research in farming and mountain villages.

[ISSN]2189-4825