Baby boomers engagement as traditional university students: benefits and costs

Margaret Hardy; Florin I Oprescu; Prudence M Millear; Mathew J Summers

doi:10.1080/02601370.2017.1382015

Back

Baby boomers engagement as traditional university students: benefits and costs

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Baby boomers engagement as traditional university students: benefits and costs

Margaret Hardy, Florin I Oprescu, Prudence M Millear and Mathew J Summers

International Journal of Lifelong Education, Vol.36(6), pp.730-744

2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02601370.2017.1382015

Appears in UniSC Diversity and Inclusion Research Collection

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1080/02601370.2017.1382015View

Published Version

Abstract

education

health

later life

ageing population

UniSC Diversity Area - Life Stages

This study draws from interviews of baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1965) enrolled in a traditional university programme. Interviews focussed on the mental, social and physical benefits of university education, exploring the aspirations of baby boomers as well as the social and academic barriers and costs they encountered. This qualitative phenomenological study investigated the perceptions, understandings and beliefs of 15 baby boomers from South-East Queensland who were returning to or commencing university level education. Informal semi-structured interviews were conducted and thematically analysed to provide a detailed account of the baby boomer students' university experience. Using an adapted health action process approach, with the health goal being replaced by a learning goal, the results confirm that university study in later life can be beneficial to the individual as well as to the wider community. This research can inform policy-making by emphasising the importance of lifelong learning and healthy ageing for the baby boomer generation. The results highlight the value of higher education creating a supportive environment for baby boomer students which, in addition to educational achievements, can assist participants in maintaining good health and making informed health care decisions in the future.

Details

Title: Baby boomers engagement as traditional university students: benefits and costs
Authors: Margaret Hardy (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Florin I Oprescu (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Prudence M Millear (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Mathew J Summers (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Publication details: International Journal of Lifelong Education, Vol.36(6), pp.730-744
Publisher: Routledge
Date published: 2017
DOI: 10.1080/02601370.2017.1382015
ISSN: 0260-1370
Organisation Unit: School of Health; School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; Thompson Institute; Engage Research Lab; School of Health - Psychology; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy; School of Health - Public Health
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451099602621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

10 File views/ downloads

809 Record Views

13 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Web Of Science research areas: Education & Educational Research

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: InCites