Active aging and learning outcomes: what can older people learn from participation?

Abstract

Although the concept of “active aging” has been widely used as a framework to underpin an optimistic view of aging, few studies have focused on the activities it encompasses and what participants learn. The aim of this study was to explore and compare the learning outcomes acquired from different active aging activities. A sample of 448 people aged 60 years and above participated in the study. The vast majority of participants stated that they had learned something valuable from their involvement in the active aging activity. Content analysis showed two main types of learning: self-focused learning and other-focused learning, whose frequency differed depending on the activity in which participants were engaged. The results of this study show the complexity of the concept of active aging and the need to diversify actions to promote each of the activities included in this framework, based on the type of learning acquired.