title: Participation in formal learning activities of older Europeans in poor and good health.
abstract: Little attention has been given to the involvement in formal learning activities (FLA) in the older population when considering different health statuses. The aim of this study is to explore the extent to which possible predictors (derived from previous research as well as a conceptual model) of FLA differ for older people in poor and good health. Data are used from SHARE 2010/2011 for the 50+ populations in 16 European countries. Poor health is defined as self-report of having two or more chronic diseases assessed by a medical doctor, i.e. multimorbidity. Possible predictors of learning activities represent individual characteristics: functional limitations, demography (age, gender, marital status and household size), human capital (achieved level of education), employment, income and participation in other social activities. To assess the predictors of FLA, logistic regression models are used and average marginal estimates are compared across groups. In addition to multimorbidity, labour market activity is used as a grouping variable. The average participation of individuals in the group with multimorbidity was nearly 50 % lower than that in the group in good health (6.5 vs. 13.3 %). Regardless of multimorbidity, human capital proved to be significant predictors of FLA, especially in those active on the labour market. However, the associations were weaker in the multimorbidity group. Also, significant associations were observed of other types of social activities, in particular cultural and leisure activity and volunteering, with FLA. This study suggests that similar factors are predictors of FLA in older people with and without multimorbidity.
authors.affiliation: Collegium Medicum Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland ; Institute of Labour and Social Studies (IPiSS), Warsaw, Poland ; Center for Social and Economic Research (CASE), Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Stanisława
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Golinowska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Labour and Social Studies (IPiSS), Warsaw, Poland ; Center for Social and Economic Research (CASE), Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sowa
authors.affiliation: The EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Dorly
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deeg
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing (INRCA), Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Socci
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing (INRCA), Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Principi
authors.affiliation: European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ilinca
authors.affiliation: The EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Henrike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Galenkamp
keywords: Active ageing; Human capital; Labour market activity; Learning activities; Morbidity; Older people; Successful ageing