Characteristics of Participants and Nonparticipants in an Educational Program for Senior Citizens

Characteristics of Participants and Nonparticipants in an Educational Program for Senior Citizens

要旨

　目的：高齢大学参加者の基本属性と健康や社会参加に関する特性を、高齢大学非参加者との比較で明らかにすることを本研究の目的とする。

　方法：1994年に、現役の名古屋市高齢大学参加者と卒業生に対して自記式アンケートを実施し、また比較対照群として老人クラブから無作為に高齢者を抽出した。質問項目には、基本属性、健康状態、生きがい感、社会とのかかわりに関する変数を含めた。

　結果：高齢大学参加者（現役生と卒業生）は非参加者に比べて、有意に年齢が低かった。女性参加者では、非参加者に比べて独居者が多かった。また参加者は有意に自覚的健康度が高かったが、治療中の疾患を有する割合では差が認められなかった。60歳を過ぎてからの旅行頻度、生きがい感、社会への貢献意欲、若年世代との交流意欲も高齢大学参加者で有意に高かった。高齢大学への参加が卒業後の縦断的な自覚的健康度の改善に関連するという結果は見られなかったが、社会的できごとへの関心や地域活動への参加は卒業後も維持されていることが明らかにされた。

　結論：高年期での大学参加は、社会との関わりや積極的な態度を維持するという効果が得られることが示唆された。本研究で特徴的に示された高齢大学参加者の高い自己達成感は、増加しつつある高齢者に適した継続的な教育機会提供の重要性を示しているといえる。

Abstract

　Purpose: A survey was conducted to characterize the participants in learning programs for seniors for demographic/health status and social integration in comparison with the nonparticipants.

　Methods: Self-reported questionnaires were mailed to the current and former participants in the Educational Program for Senior Citizens in Nagoya in 1994. Data from randomly selected senior citizens club members were used as a reference. The questions cover demographic/health status, sense of living a purposeful life, or other social integration variables.

　Results: The program attendees were significantly younger than the nonattendees. Female attendees were more often likely to live alone than the nonattendees. Attendance at the learning program was significantly associated with better perceived health, but not with the likelihood of being treated for illness. Program participation was found to be significantly associated with frequency of travel after age 60, the sense of living a purposeful life, interest in contributing to society, and desire to stay close to the younger generation. Although a link between participation in the program and improvement of perceived health over a period of time was unproven, program participation helped maintain and enhance elderly people's interests in social affairs, and keep them integrated in the community even after completion of the program.

　Conclusions: Benefits from learning program participation in later life were suggested in maintaining social integration and positive attitude. Self-fulfillment characteristics of program attendees underscores the importance of more continuing education opportunities catering to the increasing number of aged persons.