Impact of the Third Age Open University on the Quality of Life of the Elderly

Inouye, Keika; Orlandi, Fabiana de Souza; Pavarini, Sofia Cristina Lost; Pedrazzani, Elisete Silva

doi:10.1590/S1678-4634201708142931

Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Brasil

Español English

sumário « anterior atual seguinte »

Sumário

Thematic Section: Higher Education • Educ. Pesqui. 44 • 2018 • https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-4634201708142931 copy

Impact of the Third Age Open University on the Quality of Life of the Elderly

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

The education of older adults fosters knowledge leading to a re-dimensioning required to improve the quality of life (QOL) through the concepts of interdisciplinarity, social participation, and the promotion of healthy activities. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the Third Age Open University (the acronym in Portuguese is UATI) program on the QOL of elderly students. To this end, the scores were measured before and after the intervention (at the beginning and end of the course year) and were compared with the scores of a group not attending the UATI. The data collection tools were as follows: Characterizations of Participants, the Brazilian Economic Classification Criteria, and the Quality of Life Assessment Scale (QdV-DA). All data obtained were entered into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences instrument for carrying out non-parametric statistical analysis. On analysis, the data revealed the following: (a) a positive difference between the total scores of QOL of older adults who were students of UATI before and after the intervention (at the beginning and end of the course year) (Z = −4.541; p < 0.001); (b) after participation in the UATI, the perceptions of QOL were higher for UATI students compared to the group of individuals who did not participate in the program (χ2 = 7.448; df = 1; p = 0.006). The results of this study indicate that participation in the UATI is favorable for enhancing perceived QOL.

Quality of life; Aging; Self-assessment; Gerontology; Education

Dimensions of QOL	Perception / score
Dimensions of QOL	Poor/1		Moderate/2		Good/3		Excellent/4
Collection in regard to intervention	Before (t0)	After (t1)	Before (t0)	After (t1)	Before (t0)	After (t1)	Before (t0)	After (t1)
	n %	n %	n %	n %	n %	n %	n %	n %
1. Physical health	4	2	10	4	6	11	7	10
1. Physical health	14.8	7.4	37.0	14.8	22.2	40.7	25.9	37.00
2. Disposition	5	2	8	5	6	9	8	11
2. Disposition	18.5	7.4	29.6	18.5	22.2	33.3	29.6	40.7
3. Mood	3	2	1	2	18	13	5	10
3. Mood	11.1	7.4	3.7	7.4	66.7	48.1	18.5	37.0
4. Residence	1	1	5	4	17	18	4	4
4. Residence	3,7	3,7	18,5	14,8	63,0	66,7	14,8	14,8
5. Memory	8	2	7	3	3	9	9	13
5. Memory	29.6	7.4	25.9	11.1	11.1	33.3	33.3	48.1
6. Family	4	2	4	5	11	12	8	8
6. Family	14.8	7.4	14.8	18.5	40.7	44.4	29.6	29.6
7. Marriage	2	1	5	5	8	8	12	13
7. Marriage	7.4	3.7	18.5	18.5	29.6	29.6	44.4	48.1
8. Friends	3	1	6	2	8	4	10	20
8. Friends	11.1	3.7	22.2	7.4	29.6	14.8	37.0	74.1
9. You in general	5	2	7	6	9	9	6	10
9. You in general	18.5	7.4	25.9	22.2	33.3	33.3	22.2	37.0
10. Tasks	5	2	5	4	10	9	7	12
10. Tasks	18.5	7.4	18.5	14.8	37.0	33.3	25.9	44.4
11. Leisure	4	2	10	5	8	12	5	8
11. Leisure	14.8	7.4	37.0	18.5	29.6	44.4	18.5	29.6
12. Money	3	2	17	17	2	3	5	5
12. Money	11.1	7.4	63.0	63.00	7.4	11.1	18.5	18.5
13. Life in general	3	2	12	3	10	17	2	5
	11.1	7.4	44.4	11.1	37.0	63.0	7.4	18.5

Groups	Dimensions of QOL	Collection				Comparative analysis
		1st Collection		2nd Collection		Comparative analysis
		Average	SD	Average	SD	Z	p
UATI Students	Physical health	2.59	1.05	3.07	0.92	-3.127	0.002*
	Disposition	2.63	1.12	3.07	0.96	-2.972	0.003*
	Mood	2.93	0.83	3.15	0.86	-2.121	0.034*
	Residence	2.89	0.70	2.93	0.68	-0.577	0.564 ^ns
	Memory	2.48	1.25	3.22	0.93	-3.134	0.002*
	Family	2.85	1.03	2.96	0.90	-1.342	0.180 ^ns
	Marriage	3.11	0.97	3.22	0.89	-1.732	0.083 ^ns
	Friends	2.93	1.04	3.59	0.80	-3.140	0.002*
	You in general	2.59	1.05	3.00	0.96	-3.317	0.001*
	Ability to carry out tasks	2.7	1.07	3.15	0.95	-2.762	0.006*
	Leisure activities	2.57	0.98	3.96	0.90	-2.144	0.032*
	Money	2.33	0.92	2.41	0.89	-1.414	0.157 ^ns
	Life in general	2.41	0.80	2.93	0.78	-3.500	0.000*
	Total score	34.96	8.68	39.67	6.97	-4.541	0.000*

Non-UATI Participants	Physical health	2.56	0.93	2.37	1.01	-1.155	0.248 ^ns
	Disposition	2.70	0.83	2.56	0.80	-1.633	0.102 ^ns
	Mood	3.07	0.68	2.63	0.84	-2.814	0.005*
	Residence	2.81	0.62	2.85	0.72	-0.577	0.564 ^ns
	Memory	3.19	0.88	2.59	0.89	-3.358	0.001*
	Family	3.19	0.79	3.11	0.80	-0.707	0.480 ^ns
	Marriage	3.26	0.76	3.07	0.83	-1.633	0.102 ^ns
	Friends	2.74	1.06	2.52	0.98	-2.121	0.034*
	You in general	2.81	0.74	2.67	0.83	-2.000	0.046*
	Ability to carry out tasks	2.81	1.08	2.33	0.96	-3.357	0.001*
	Leisure activities	2.52	1.01	2.11	0.89	-2.810	0.005*
	Money	1.93	0.73	2.15	0.86	-1.732	0.083*
	Life in general	2.67	0.68	2.59	0.64	-1.000	0.317 ^ns
	Total score	36.26	7.22	33.56	7.42	-3.540	0.000*

Faculdade de Educação da Universidade de São Paulo Av. da Universidade, 308 - Biblioteca, 1º andar 05508-040 - São Paulo SP Brasil, Tel./Fax.: (55 11) 30913520 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: revedu@usp.br

Acompanhe os números deste periódico no seu leitor de RSS

[1] Keika Inouye holds a doctorate in Special Education from the Universidade Federal de São Carlos. Professor of the Departament of Gerontology of the Universidade Federal de São Carlos.

Fabiana de Souza Orlandi holds a doctorate in Sciences from the Universidade de São Paulo. Professor of the Departament of Gerontology of the Universidade Federal de São Carlos.

Sofia Cristina Lost Pavarini holds a post-doctorate in Gerontology from the Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Full Professor of the Departament of Gerontology of the Universidade Federal de São Carlos.

Elisete Silva Pedrazzani holds a doctorate in Public Health from the Universidade de São Paulo. Retired Professor of the Department of Nursing of the Universidade Federal de São Carlos.