Psychosocial Rehabilitation Through Intervention by Second Language Acquisition in Older Adults

Marcel Pikhart,Blanka Klimova,Anna Cierniak-Emerych,Szymon Dziuba

doi:10.1007/s10936-021-09805-z

Abstract

The paper deals with a possibility of foreign language learning (FLL) intervention in older adults as a psychosocial rehabilitation method to improve the quality of life (QoL) in this age segment, i.e. the people who are over 55 years. FLL has been researched as a successful tool to maintain or even enhance cognitive functions in older age along with other intentional activities, such as engagement in any physical activity. FLL cannot dramatically improve memory and cognitive deterioration of older adults, however, it can improve QoL by increasing subjective happiness that is connected to improved wellbeing. The research was conducted in two groups of seniors who are engaged in FLL, specifically in the Czech Republic and Poland. The major premise of the research was based on the positive psychology concept, i.e., the subjective happiness leads to improved levels of QoL. Both groups consisted of about a hundred respondents whose opinions were researched by an online questionnaire. The major focus of this questionnaire was to evaluate the level of subjective happiness and then compare the results obtained from the respondents from these two geographically different regions. The findings clearly showed that those who had engaged in FLL had reached high levels of subjective happiness, therefore, their subjective wellbeing could be improved. These results might be important for psychosocial rehabilitation practices because they can create a framework for further non-pharmacological intervention to maintain healthy aging. FLL can thus be a very efficient tool for any psychosocial rehabilitation in older healthy adults who do not suffer from any cognitive pathological development but who are just experiencing negative side effects of natural aging process. The research into this topic is very scarce, and therefore, this paper could be an inspiration for further and larger-scale research.

Highlights

The research into various aspects of foreign language learning (FLL) is ample, there is a significant impact of FLL on maintaining or even enhancing cognitive parameters in older adults as well (Klimova, 2018; Klimova et al, 2016; Phenniger et al, 2018; Pikhart & Klimova, 2020; Valis et al, 2019)
How much FLL can improve these subjective feelings of happiness and lead to improved subjective wellbeing and quality of life (QoL)? There is a clear correlation between subjective feelings of satisfaction and happiness
The research tool was a list of twenty statements covering various advantages and disadvantages of FLL in terms of mental wellbeing

Summary

Introduction

The research into various aspects of foreign language learning (FLL) is ample, there is a significant impact of FLL on maintaining or even enhancing cognitive parameters in older adults as well (Klimova, 2018; Klimova et al, 2016; Phenniger et al, 2018; Pikhart & Klimova, 2020; Valis et al, 2019). It is an inevitable process connected to aging, there are various activities that could have a potential to slow down this natural process, such as music, natural environment, nutrition, physical activity, mental activity, arts, or political and civic engagement (Cann, 2017; Elzen et al, 2019; Erickson et al, 2009; Gil-Lacruz et al, 2020; Klimova et al, 2020; MacKean et al, 2011; Mathis et al, 2016; Socci et al, 2020; Serrat et al 2019, Serrat et al, 2015; Wilson et al, 2006) These non-pharmacological intervention activities work very well in various psychological perspectives and it is very clear that they improve objective physical and mental status, and subjective wellbeing of the participants of these activities.

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