Subjective and psychological well-being among elderly participants of a University of the Third Age

Cachioni, Meire; Delfino, Lais Lopes; Yassuda, Mônica Sanches; Batistoni, Samila Sathler Tavares; Melo, Ruth Caldeira de; Domingues, Marisa Accioly Rodrigues da Costa

doi:10.1590/1981-22562017020.160179

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Revista Brasileira de Geriatria e Gerontologia

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Original Articles • Rev. bras. geriatr. gerontol. 20 (3) • May-Jun 2017 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1981-22562017020.160179 copy

Subjective and psychological well-being among elderly participants of a University of the Third Age

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

Objective:

The present study aimed to analyze the distribution of measures of subjective and psychological well-being according to demographic criteria and length of participation in the program.

Method:

A cross sectional study using the following instruments was carried out: a sociodemographic questionnaire (age, gender, education, length of participation in University of the Third Age (U3A) and similar programs located in the city of São Paulo, Brazil; an Overall Life Satisfaction Scale; a Life Satisfaction Scale that contemplated four domains: health, physical capacity, mental capacity and social involvement; a Positive/Negative Affect Scale; and a Personal Development Scale. The data were analyzed by the chi-squared test (for comparison of categorical variables), the Mann-Whitney and the Kruskal-Wallis U tests (for comparison of continuous variables).

Results:

Age and gender were the main factors that were significantly associated with overall life satisfaction, life satisfaction in specific domains, and morale. Higher education was associated with psychological adjustment.

Conclusion:

Participating in a U3A contributes to high levels of subjective and psychological well-being. Elderly individuals of more advanced ages and men had higher rates of satisfaction with life and positive feelings. The elderly can assess their development trajectory, their commitment to society and consider their efforts in pursuing an ideal of personal excellence.

Keywords:
Subjective well-being; Psychological well-being; Elderly; Third Age Universities

Universidade do Estado do Rio Janeiro Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524 - Bloco F, 20559-900 Rio de Janeiro - RJ Brasil, Tel.: (55 21) 2334-0168 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil
E-mail: revistabgg@gmail.com

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[1] Correspondence Meire Cachioni E-mail: meirec@usp.br

Variable	Gender
	Male	Female
	Mean(±sd)		Mean(±sd)	p-value*
Age	67.22 (±5.61)		66.97 (±5.43)	0.759
Schooling	10.88 (±4.89)		9.69 (±4.56)	0.040*
Time of Participation
UnATI EACH-USP	1.89 (±2.03)		2.11 (±2.18)	0.464
Other U3A or Social Centers	1.17 (±3.01)		3.19 (±6.18)	0.002*
Overall Satisfaction with Life Scale
OSL/Total	8.17 (±1.47)		8.29 ± (1.53)	0.408
Domain Related Satisfaction Scale
Health	3.90 (±0.72)		3.74 (±0.67)	0.044*
Physical Capacity	3.84 (±0.71)		3.86 (±0.66)	0.912
Mental Capacity	4.05 (±0.77)		3.84 (±0.67)	0.011*
Social Involvement	3.80 (±0.83)		3.92 (±0.78)	0.151*
DRS/ Total	3.91 (±0.61)		3.85 (±0.48)	0.294
Affect Schedule
Positive (PA)	3.88 (±0.53)		3.76 (±0.58)	0.083
Negative (NA)	1.64 (±0.66)		1.80 (±0.69)	0.066
A/Total	4.16 (±0.52)		4.02 (±0.58)	0.041*
Personal Development Scale
Factor 1	4.21 (±0.42)		4.27 (±0.46)	0.183
Factor 2	3.60 (±0.68)		3.66 (±0.71)	0.468
Factor 3	3.97 (±0.61)		3.96 (±0.59)	0.904
Factor 4	3.68 (±0.92)		3.79 (±0.89)	0.331
Factor 5	4.03 (±0.76)		3.90 (±0.78)	0.206
PDS/Total	3.99 (±0.37)		4.04 (±0.42)	0.278

Variable	Age Range
	60 to 64 years	65 to 69 years	70 years or more
	Mean (±sd)	Mean (±sd)	Mean (±sd)	p-value*
Gender (Fem. %)	71.30%	62.32%	70.45%	0.413*
Age	61.98 (±1.43)^b.c	66.67 (±1.28)^c	73.57 (±3.49)	<0.001
Schooling	10.26 (±4.89)	10.75 (±4.47)	9.30 (±4.55)	01305
Time of Participation
UnATI EACH-USP	1.78 (±1.99)	2.17 (±2.27)	2.26 (±2.19)	0.228
Other U3A or Social Centers	1.70 (±4.36)	3.12 (±5.56)	3.16 (±6.45)	0.498
Overall Satisfaction with Life Scale
OSL/Total	7.92 (±1.55)^c	8.41 (±1.35)	8.55 (±1.51)	0.009
Domain Related Satisfaction Scale
Health	3.65 (±0.69)^b	3.92 (±0.73)	3.86 (±0.64)	0.025
Physical Capacity	3.81 (±0.58)^b	4.04 (±0.74)^c	3.77 (±0.71)	0.013
Mental Capacity	3.83 (±0.69)	4.04 (±0.77)	3.89 (±0.67)	0.140
Social Involvement	3.86 (±0.75)	3.86 (±0.93)	3.93 (±0.75)	0.823
DRS/Total	3.80 (±0.48)^b	3.98 (±0.60)	3.88 (±0.50)	0.030
Affect Schedule
Positive (PA)	3.68 (±0.64)^b	3.91 (±0.51)	3.86 (±0.51)	0.018
Negative (PN)	1.95 (±0.78)	1.67 (±0.55)^c	1.57 (±0.59)	0.001
A/Total (PA-PN)	3.91 (±0.64)^b.c	4.15 (±0.46)	4.19 (±0.49)	<0.001
Personal Development Scale
Factor 1	4.22 (±0.43)	4.32 (±0.43)	4.24 (±0.47)	0.424
Factor 2	3.64 (±0.68)	3.68 (±0.68)	3.61 (±0.74)	0.862
Factor 3	3.91 (±0.55)	4.08 (±0.60)	3.93 (±0.64)	0.106
Factor 4	3.75 (±0.96)	3.79 (±0.87)	3.73 (±0.86)	0.902
Factor 5	3.91 (±0.76)	4.01 (±0.77)	3.91 (±0.80)	0.668
EDEP/Total	4.00 (±0.39)	4.09 (±0.39)	4.00 (±0.42)	0.364

Variable	Schooling
	0 to 4 years	5 to 8 years	9 to 11 years	12 or more
	Mean (±sd)	Mean (±sd)	Mean (±sd)	Mean (±sd)	p-value*
Gender (Fem. %)	78.57%	68.49%	76.79%	59.57%	0.064*
Age	67.55 (±6.29)	67.47 (±5.16)	66.04 (±4.86)	67.11 (±5.68)	0.502
Schooling	3.76 (±0.80)^a.b.c	6.89 (±1.14)^b.c	10.36 (±0.82^)c	15.12 (±2.98)	<0.001
Length of Participation
UnATI EACH-USP	2.21 (±2.52)	2.01 (±2.06)	1.86 (±1.85)	2.10 (±2.19)	0.992
Other U3A or Social Centers	2.26 (±4.75)	3.15 (±6.53)	3.13 (±6.66)	1.88 (±3.83)	0.748
Overall Satisfaction with Life Scale
OSL/Total	8.43 (±1.67)	8.42 (±1.52)	8.25 (±1.42)	8.04 (±1.48)	0.287
Domain Related Satisfaction Scale
Health	3.77 (±0.75)	3.92 (±0.58)	3.77 (±0.80)	3.71 (±0.67)	0.436
Physical Capacity	3.90 (±0.53)	3.85 (±0.71)	3.96 (±0.76)	3.78 (±0.66)	0.497
Mental Capacity	3.77 (±0.70)	3.87 (±0.69)	3.88 (±0.74)	4.00 (±0.70)	0.204
Social Involvement	3.99 (±0.63)	3.89 (±0.86)	3.84 (±0.99)	3.85 (±0.68)	0.697
DRS/ Total	3.86 (±0.46)	3.90 (±0.51)	3.88 (±0.67)	3.84 (±0.47)	0.931
Affect Schedule
Positive (PA)	3.74 (±0.55)	3.79 (±0.61)	3.82 (±0.55)	3.82 (±0.56)	0.884
Negative (NA)	1.73 (±0.64)	1.66 (±0.72)	1.73 (±0.65)	1.84 (±0.70)	0.189
A/Total	4.06 (±0.49)	4.11 (±0.60)	4.08 (±0.56)	4.02 (±0.58)	0.546
Personal Development Scale
Factor 1	4.22 (±0.46)	4.22 (±0.44)	4.23 (±0.42)	4.30 (±0.47)	0.411
Factor 2	3.59 (±0.71)	3.53 (±0.74)	3.72 (±0.65)	3.70 (±0.69)	0.416
Factor 3	3.89 (±0.60)	3.90 (±0.66)	3.94 (±0.49)	4.05 (±0.60	0.234
Factor 4	3.68 (±0.79)	3.65 (±1.02)	3.69 (±0.96)	3.90 (±0.79)	0.322
Factor 5	3.91 (±0.84)	3.91 (±0.81)	3.86 (±0.76)	4.02 (±0.73)	0.719
PDS/Total	3.97 (±0.39)	3.97 (±0.41)	4.01 (±0.38)	4.10 (±0.41)	0.069

Variable	Time of Participation at UnATI EACH-USP
	Freshman	1 Semester.	1 Year	> 1 Year
	Mean (±sd)	Mean (±sd)	Mean (±sd)	Mean (±sd)	p-value*
Gender (Fem. %)	65.43%	72.22%	62.79%	72.41%	0.579*
Age	66.69 (±5.76)	66.76 (±5.37)	67.12 (±5.32)	67.53 (±5.40)	0.618
Schooling	10.19 (±4.99)	10.06 (±4.47)	9.72 (±4.81)	10.14 (±4.54)	0.953
Length of Participation
UnATI EACH-USP	0.00 (±0.00)	1.00 (±0.00)	2.00 (±0.00)	4.61 (±1.65)	<0.001**
Other U3A or Social Centers	1.73 (±4.73)	2.52 (±4.73)	3.37 (±6.55)	2.94 (±5.92)	0.209
Overall Satisfaction with Life Scale
OSL/Total	8.11 (±1.57)	8.39 (±1.37)	8.38 (±1.41)	8.24 (±1.59)	0.717
Domain Related Satisfaction Scale
Health	3.74 (±0.79)	3.80 (±0.74)	3.79 (±0.63)	3.84 (±0.60)	0.819
Physical Capacity	3.82 (±0.71)	3.92 (±0.69)	3.94 (±0.65)	3.81 (±0.66)	0.635
Mental Capacity	3.91 (±0.79)	3.92 (±0.69)	3.90 (±0.76)	3.89 (±0.63)	0.964
Social Involvement	3.77 (±0.90)	4.00 (±0.81)	3.96 (±0.67)	3.87 (±0.74)	0.330
DRS/ Total	3.83 (±0.62)	3.92 (±0.53)	3.91 (±0.49)	3.86 (±0.45)	0.675
Affect Schedule
Positive (PA)	3.73 (±0.62)	3.87 (±0.55)	3.80 (±0.55)	3.82 (±0.54)	0.459
Negative (NA)	1.83 (±0.67)	1.62 (±0.61)	1.70 (±0.69)	1.77 (±0.74)	0.237
A/Total	3.99 (±0.57)	4.16 (±0.51)	4.10 (±0.57)	4.06 (±0.59)	0.164
Personal Development Scale
Factor 1	4.21 (±0.46)	4.26 (±0.44)	4.33 (±0.44)	4.24 (±0.44)	0.521
Factor 2	3.51 (±0.69)	3.68 (±0.74)	3.76 (±0.66)	3.67 (±0.70)	0.153
Factor 3	3.97 (±0.58)	4.09 (±0.57)	3.93 (±0.68)	3.89 (±0.58)	0.223
Factor 4	3.92 (±0.93)	3.65 (±0.86)	3.72 (±0.87)	3.67 (±0.90)	0.175
Factor 5	3.97 (±0.84)	3.99 (±0.80)	3.96 (±0.84)	3.86 (±0.75)	0.634
PDS/Total	4.01 (±0.41)	4.02 (±0.40)	4.08 (±0.40)	4.00 (±0.40)	0.691

Variable	Group
	First-years	Veterans
	Mean (±sd)	Mean (±sd)	p-value*
Gender (Fem. %)	65.43%	70.11%	0.449*
Age	66.69 (±5.76)	67.21 (±5.35)	0.320
Schooling	10.19 (±4.99)	10.02 (±4.56)	0.933
Length of Participation
UnATI EACH-USP	0.00 (±0.00)	2.94 (±1.98)	<0.001**
Other U3A or Social Centers	1.73 (±4.73)	2.92 (±5.73)	0.035**
Overall Satisfaction with Life Scale
OSL/Total	8.11 (±1.57)	8.32 (±1.48)	0.284
Domain Related Satisfaction Scale
Health	3.74 (±0.79)	3.81 (±0.65)	0.473
Physical Capacity	3.82 (±0.71)	3.87 (±0.67)	0.748
Mental Capacity	3.91 (±0.79)	3.90 (±0.67)	0.913
Social Involvement	3.77 (±0.90)	3.93 (±0.74)	0.196
DRS/Total	3.83 (±0.62)	3.89 (±0.48)	0.356
Affect Schedule
Positive (PA)	3.73 (±0.62)	3.83 (±0.54)	0.142
Negative (NA)	1.83 (±0.67)	1.71 (±0.69)	0.092
A/Total	3.99 (0±.57)	4.10 (±0.56)	0.050**
Personal Development Scale
Factor 1	4.21 (±0.46)	4.27 (±0.44)	0.398
Factor 2	3.51 (±0.69)	3.70 (±0.70)	0.028**
Factor 3	3.97 (±0.58)	3.96 (±0.60)	0.729
Factor 4	3.92 (±0.93)	3.68 (±0.88)	0.030**
Factor 5	3.97 (±0.75)	3.92 (±0.79)	0.737
PDS/Total	4.01 (±0.41)	4.03 (±0.40)	0.810