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

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.