Abstract
“Emptiness” (Munashisa in Japanese) is a common feeling, yet there are a few studies of the feeling in our country. They suggest that emptiness is related to identity reconstruction, but researches that shows the process of emptiness doesn't exist and that of old stage doesn't, either. The purpose of this study is to clarify the process of arousal and continuance of emptiness during the young-old stage. The data of 14 people (7 men, 7 women; age of 62–78) from semi-structured interviews were analyzed with Grounded Theory Approach. Young-olds' emptiness was experienced in 3 circumstances: Searching hobbies, changes of parent-child relationship, conducting themselves in the business community. In every situation, they recognize various types of aging or life events in the developmental state at first. Then the loss of control realized. And they couldn't take the initiative, feel emptiness. The results also suggest that though young-olds are struggling to get out of the process of emptiness, but often fail and feel it again.
