Affiliation:
1. Centre for Ageing Research and Education, Duke-NUS Medical School , Singapore , Singapore
2. Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School , Singapore , Singapore
Abstract
Abstract
Objectives
Lifelong learning and volunteering contribute to not only health and well-being, but also social inclusion and cohesion among older adults. However, less is known about whether lifelong learning and volunteering promote each other. This study examined the reciprocal relationship between older adults’ lifelong learning and volunteering and whether the relationship varied by the purpose of lifelong learning.
Methods
Cross-lagged panel models were applied to data on 2,608 older adults, aged 60 years and older, from 2 waves of a national longitudinal study from Singapore.
Results
We found a bidirectional relationship between lifelong learning and volunteering. However, when job-related and nonjob-related lifelong learning were considered separately, only nonjob-related lifelong learning predicted volunteering. On the other hand, volunteering predicted both job-related and nonjob-related lifelong learning.
Discussion
Lifelong learning leads to volunteering, and vice versa, creating a virtuous circle of productive social engagement in later life. Programs or initiatives engaging older adults in either productive activity should promote and provide opportunities for participation in the other activity.
Funder
Singapore’s Ministry of Health
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Subject
Geriatrics and Gerontology,Gerontology,Clinical Psychology,Social Psychology
Cited by
1 articles.
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