Investigating Facilitators and Barriers in the Tendency of Older Adults to Third-Generation Universities

Objectives With the progress in the last century and the increased population of older adults, their social importance in society has become more prominent, and with the beginning of old age and retirement, most retired older adults face changes in different aspects of their lives. Given the favorab...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sara Maghare Dehkordi, Samaneh Pourhadi, Masoud Lotfizadeh, Shima Sum
Format: Article
Language:fas
Published: University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences 2025-03-01
Series:Sālmand
Subjects:
Online Access:http://salmandj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-2696-en.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849309817229803520
author Sara Maghare Dehkordi
Samaneh Pourhadi
Masoud Lotfizadeh
Shima Sum
author_facet Sara Maghare Dehkordi
Samaneh Pourhadi
Masoud Lotfizadeh
Shima Sum
author_sort Sara Maghare Dehkordi
collection DOAJ
description Objectives With the progress in the last century and the increased population of older adults, their social importance in society has become more prominent, and with the beginning of old age and retirement, most retired older adults face changes in different aspects of their lives. Given the favorable impact of learning on people's well-being, the role of universities in the general health of third-generation learners (adults between the ages of 50 and 75 years who do not have regular job or family responsibilities) and their lack of expansion in our country, this study determines facilitators and barriers in the tendency of older adults to third generation universities. Methods & Materials This qualitative study was conducted using content analysis with 19 members of the Shahrekord Retirees’ Center, who had retired at least one year ago and were selected using purposive sampling with maximum variation (in terms of demographic characteristics) as well as in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The interviews were transcribed word by word and continued until data saturation was achieved. The content analysis of the interviews was done by determining the conceptual units, accurate coding, and continuous comparison, and gradually, subthemes and themes were created. Results From all the interviews, 364 initial codes were drawn, and the codes obtained from data analysis were assigned to two themes, obstacles to the tendency of older adults to university, including 7 subthemes (changing the learning process with increasing age, distance, and transportation, lack of social trust, socio-economic problems, not having enough opportunities, the presence of disabilities in old age, concern for young people) and facilitating factors for the tendency of older adults to university, including 7 subthemes (existence of well-being and comfort in life, lack of responsibilities and costs, existence of support and special privileges, increasing the level of awareness and culture, localization University and programs, the participation of capable retirees in programs, the importance of different views or interests of people). Conclusion Considering the change in the learning process of older people, the lack of social trust in society, economic-social problems, the concern of distance and transportation, and the existence of disabilities in old age, a working group of specialists and pundits is necessary to provide the required infrastructure. The need to formulate, revise, and monitor the implementation of the laws of third generation universities is formed to take appropriate planning and organization to remove obstacles and create third generation universities based on the cultural and social characteristics of Iranian society, which is an important step toward promoting and improving the quality of life of the older adults.
format Article
id doaj-art-c5d34ee0bfdf46d8a997686c9fa5feb2
institution Kabale University
issn 1735-806X
language fas
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences
record_format Article
series Sālmand
spelling doaj-art-c5d34ee0bfdf46d8a997686c9fa5feb22025-08-20T03:53:57ZfasUniversity of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation SciencesSālmand1735-806X2025-03-012013851Investigating Facilitators and Barriers in the Tendency of Older Adults to Third-Generation UniversitiesSara Maghare Dehkordi0Samaneh Pourhadi1Masoud Lotfizadeh2Shima Sum3 Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran. Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. Objectives With the progress in the last century and the increased population of older adults, their social importance in society has become more prominent, and with the beginning of old age and retirement, most retired older adults face changes in different aspects of their lives. Given the favorable impact of learning on people's well-being, the role of universities in the general health of third-generation learners (adults between the ages of 50 and 75 years who do not have regular job or family responsibilities) and their lack of expansion in our country, this study determines facilitators and barriers in the tendency of older adults to third generation universities. Methods & Materials This qualitative study was conducted using content analysis with 19 members of the Shahrekord Retirees’ Center, who had retired at least one year ago and were selected using purposive sampling with maximum variation (in terms of demographic characteristics) as well as in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The interviews were transcribed word by word and continued until data saturation was achieved. The content analysis of the interviews was done by determining the conceptual units, accurate coding, and continuous comparison, and gradually, subthemes and themes were created. Results From all the interviews, 364 initial codes were drawn, and the codes obtained from data analysis were assigned to two themes, obstacles to the tendency of older adults to university, including 7 subthemes (changing the learning process with increasing age, distance, and transportation, lack of social trust, socio-economic problems, not having enough opportunities, the presence of disabilities in old age, concern for young people) and facilitating factors for the tendency of older adults to university, including 7 subthemes (existence of well-being and comfort in life, lack of responsibilities and costs, existence of support and special privileges, increasing the level of awareness and culture, localization University and programs, the participation of capable retirees in programs, the importance of different views or interests of people). Conclusion Considering the change in the learning process of older people, the lack of social trust in society, economic-social problems, the concern of distance and transportation, and the existence of disabilities in old age, a working group of specialists and pundits is necessary to provide the required infrastructure. The need to formulate, revise, and monitor the implementation of the laws of third generation universities is formed to take appropriate planning and organization to remove obstacles and create third generation universities based on the cultural and social characteristics of Iranian society, which is an important step toward promoting and improving the quality of life of the older adults.http://salmandj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-2696-en.pdffacilitatorsbarriersolder adultsuniversity
spellingShingle Sara Maghare Dehkordi
Samaneh Pourhadi
Masoud Lotfizadeh
Shima Sum
Investigating Facilitators and Barriers in the Tendency of Older Adults to Third-Generation Universities
Sālmand
facilitators
barriers
older adults
university
title Investigating Facilitators and Barriers in the Tendency of Older Adults to Third-Generation Universities
title_full Investigating Facilitators and Barriers in the Tendency of Older Adults to Third-Generation Universities
title_fullStr Investigating Facilitators and Barriers in the Tendency of Older Adults to Third-Generation Universities
title_full_unstemmed Investigating Facilitators and Barriers in the Tendency of Older Adults to Third-Generation Universities
title_short Investigating Facilitators and Barriers in the Tendency of Older Adults to Third-Generation Universities
title_sort investigating facilitators and barriers in the tendency of older adults to third generation universities
topic facilitators
barriers
older adults
university
url http://salmandj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-2696-en.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT saramagharedehkordi investigatingfacilitatorsandbarriersinthetendencyofolderadultstothirdgenerationuniversities
AT samanehpourhadi investigatingfacilitatorsandbarriersinthetendencyofolderadultstothirdgenerationuniversities
AT masoudlotfizadeh investigatingfacilitatorsandbarriersinthetendencyofolderadultstothirdgenerationuniversities
AT shimasum investigatingfacilitatorsandbarriersinthetendencyofolderadultstothirdgenerationuniversities