Department of Pedagogy and Nursing Didactics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, ul. Techników 3, Bydgoszcz 85-801, Poland.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2012 Jul-Aug;55(1):195-9. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2011.07.011. Epub 2011 Oct 2.
The aim of the study was to evaluate aging and elderly age quality in elderly individuals and persons entering the elderly age participating U3A continuous education courses. The research included 255 students of the U3A located in Bydgoszcz, Poland. The research included 235 women and 20 men of mean age 64.43 years. The dominant group was persons with secondary education (65.9%), and higher education (28.2%) as well as married (54.5%). All of the subjects included in the study were fully mobile. The study was conducted based on authors' original questionnaire which consisted of 24 questions and a basic personal data form surveying age, gender, marital status, level of education as well as self-reported illnesses and health problems. The research assumed the majority of positive responses as the sign of happy aging and experiencing one's own old age. Positive correlation was observed between the statement that human beings influence quality and shape of their lives, and therefore they are responsible for their own life. The higher the level of fulfilling aims in life the more frequently elderly age was perceived as a happy period. In the research data there was a relationship observed between levels of education and discrimination, i.e., the higher level of education the fewer cases of discrimination experienced: χ(2)=12.992 (df=2; p<0.01). Moreover, a very weak correlation was observed between marital status and a sense or absence of sense of emptiness in life ρ=0.128; p<0.05. The most appreciated values in life, according to the subjects were health, happiness in family and mental efficiency. The biggest worries concerned serious diseases and being dependent on other people. Most often indicated ways to lead happy elderly life were being active and open to people as well as showing optimistic attitude. The research, which was conducted on a relatively large group of people (n=255), proves positive aging direction among the elderly and persons entering late adulthood period who attend continuous education courses at U3A.
本研究旨在评估老年人和即将进入老年期的个体的衰老和老年生活质量，研究对象为参加 U3A 继续教育课程的 255 名老年人和即将进入老年期的个体。研究对象包括 235 名女性和 20 名男性，平均年龄为 64.43 岁。主要群体为接受过中等教育（65.9%）和高等教育（28.2%）的人，以及已婚者（54.5%）。所有纳入研究的受试者均完全具备活动能力。研究采用作者原创问卷进行，问卷包括 24 个问题和一份基本个人资料表格，调查内容包括年龄、性别、婚姻状况、教育程度以及自报的疾病和健康问题。研究假设大多数积极回答是快乐衰老和体验自己老年生活的标志。研究发现，人类影响自己生活的质量和形态，因此对自己的生活负责，这与积极的相关性有关。生活目标实现程度越高，老年人越认为自己的老年期是幸福的时期。在研究数据中，观察到教育程度和歧视程度之间存在关系，即教育程度越高，经历歧视的情况越少：χ(2)=12.992(df=2;p<0.01)。此外，婚姻状况与生活空虚感之间存在非常弱的相关性 ρ=0.128;p<0.05。根据研究对象的评价，生活中最重要的价值观是健康、家庭幸福和精神效率。最大的担忧是严重疾病和依赖他人。研究表明，大多数人认为积极参与社会活动、对人开放和保持乐观态度是过上幸福晚年生活的最佳方式。本研究在相对较大的人群（n=255）中进行，证明了参加 U3A 继续教育课程的老年人和即将进入老年期的个体的积极老龄化方向。
