Buddhist Social Responsibility in Death-Burdened Society

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K12814
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Religious studies
• Research Institution: Taisho University
• Principal Investigator: Koujun Hayashida 大正大学, 仏教学部, 教授 (50384681)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 小川 有閑 大正大学, 地域構想研究所, 研究員 (20751829) ; 弓山 達也 東京工業大学, リベラルアーツ研究教育院, 教授 (40311998) ; 高瀬 顕功 大正大学, 地域構想研究所, 助教 (90751850) ; 岡村 毅 地方独立行政法人東京都健康長寿医療センター(東京都健康長寿医療センター研究所), 東京都健康長寿医療センター研究所, 研究員 (10463845)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): FUJIMORI Yusuke 淑徳大学, その他部局等, 教授 (20364896)
• Research Collaborator: SHINMEI Masaya ; TOISHIBA Shiho
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 宗教の社会貢献 / 認知症 / バーンアウト予防 / スピリチュアルケア / 高齢者ケア / 看取り / 臨床宗教師 / 臨床仏教師

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In present-day, Japan is facing a super-aged society with numerous deaths. The purpose of this study is clarifying the role of Buddhist priests in contemporary Japanese society, who have, historically, dealt with life and death.
We conducted the questionnaire survey in May to August 2017, to care workers who have worked in geriatric clinics and elderly nursing homes. The questionnaire items consist of their (1) works, (2) view of geriatric care, (3) view of cooperation with Buddhist priests and (4) attribution.
By the analysis of the survey, we revealed the following: (1) there is a need for cooperation with Buddhist priests among care workers; (2) there is a correlation between religious follower and positive attitude toward geriatric care; (3) believing religion have the potential to become a protective factor against burnout.

Free Research Field

仏教学