The Quality of Life among University of the Third Age Students in Poland, Ukraine and Belarus

Aleksander Kobylarek,Lucia Petrikovičová,Viliam Judák,Ľubomír Hlad,Antonio Carmo,Roman Králik,Luba Ślósarz,Martyna Madej,Patrik Maturkanič,Amantius Akimjak,Jose Garcia Martin,Kamil Błaszczyński,Yulia Biryukova,Barbora Tokárová

doi:10.3390/su14042049

Abstract

The aim of this research was to compare the quality of life among University of the Third Age (U3A) students in Poland, where a novel method of educating seniors is being developed, with the quality of life among students at newly established U3As in Belarus and Ukraine, which have copied the Polish model. The research was also conducted to connect a range of socio-demographic variables with two explanatory ones: satisfaction with participation in U3A activities and the overall quality of life. A total of 515 U3A (N13) students from three Eastern European countries—Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus—took part in the research. The overall quality of life of U3A students was researched and expressed in the form of three components: stress level, sense of self-efficacy, and level of satisfaction with life. The following tools were used: PPS10 (Perceived Stress Scale), GSES (General Self-Efficacy Scale), and SWLS (Satisfaction with Life Scale). The research showed a statistically significant difference between the country of residence and the level of satisfaction with life, sense of self-efficacy, and the overall indicator of the quality of life. Polish seniors obtained higher results in all these areas when compared to their counterparts in Ukraine and Belarus.

Highlights

IntroductionPeople often face a crisis [1], which may have two aspects: positive, because of new opportunities (time and area for fulfilment), and negative, because of new Sustainability 2022, 14, 2049
When demographic variables were taken into account, only income proved significant for Belarusian seniors
Polish seniors feel a greater sense of self-efficacy, satisfaction with life, and overall quality of life than their Belarusian and Ukrainian counterparts

Summary

Introduction

People often face a crisis [1], which may have two aspects: positive, because of new opportunities (time and area for fulfilment), and negative, because of new Sustainability 2022, 14, 2049. Sustainability 2022, 14, 2049 challenges (losses and changes). The necessity to concentrate on professional life and earn money to support oneself and the family are among the most common reasons for giving up passion and selffulfilment. In such cases, retirement brings a sense of a lost life, regret, and resentment, even retrotopia [4]. Sometimes an attempt to “justify” oneself and reduce the acute sense of missed opportunities is made by explaining that there was no other choice [5]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion