The Structure of Seniors' Needs and Their Level of Fulfillment at Universities of the Third Age in Poland

IF 3.6 3区教育学 Q1 EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

European Journal of Education Pub Date : 2025-08-25 DOI:10.1111/ejed.70219

Sławomir Trusz, Artur Fabiś, Tomasz Berek, Sandra Kempa, Barbara Zaremba-Żółtek, Agnieszka Sitko, Dorota Augustyn, Katarzyna Dendek

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Abstract

Universities of the Third Age (U3As) play an important role in the system of non-formal lifelong education. Through offered programmes, participants meet various personal and social needs, thereby enhancing their quality of life. This study examined the applicability of a multidimensional inventory developed by the authors to assess the needs of seniors addressed in U3A classes. The tool, created using an inductive–deductive approach, identifies six types of needs. Based on responses from 486 students attending 17 U3As in southwestern Poland, the results revealed that social and cognitive needs were the most satisfied, followed by self-development, adaptation, health, and autonomy. The extent to which these needs were met was significantly associated with age, place of residence, and professional activity, but not with gender, education level, or seniors' marital status. The findings are discussed in the context of social science literature, with practical implications emphasised.

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波兰三年级大学老年人需求结构及其实现水平

第三阶段大学在非正规终身教育体系中扮演着重要的角色。透过提供的课程，参加者可满足不同的个人及社会需要，从而提高他们的生活质素。本研究检验了作者开发的多维量表的适用性，以评估U3A班级中老年人的需求。该工具使用归纳演绎方法创建，确定了六种类型的需求。根据来自波兰西南部17所大学的486名学生的反馈，结果显示，社会和认知需求是最满意的，其次是自我发展、适应、健康和自主。这些需求得到满足的程度与年龄、居住地和职业活动显著相关，但与性别、教育水平或老年人的婚姻状况无关。研究结果在社会科学文献的背景下进行了讨论，并强调了实际意义。

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来源期刊

European Journal of Education EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH-

CiteScore

4.50

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： The prime aims of the European Journal of Education are: - To examine, compare and assess education policies, trends, reforms and programmes of European countries in an international perspective - To disseminate policy debates and research results to a wide audience of academics, researchers, practitioners and students of education sciences - To contribute to the policy debate at the national and European level by providing European administrators and policy-makers in international organisations, national and local governments with comparative and up-to-date material centred on specific themes of common interest.