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Impact of Ageing Education on Adults’ Willingness to Maintain Social Connections with Older People

Abstract

Ageing education is an important aspect of Adult Education that can help adults develop knowledge and positive attitudes about the ageing process and the social needs of older people. Adults’ willingness to maintain social connections with older people refers to their readiness to communicate, interact, visit, support, and sustain meaningful relationships with older members of families and communities. However, limited understanding of ageing and misconceptions about older people may contribute to social distance, reduced interaction, and weakening relationships across age groups. This study will examine the impact of ageing education on adults’ willingness to maintain social connections with older people, with the purpose of determining whether relevant educational exposure can encourage more positive and sustained social interaction with older adults. Ageing education provides adults with knowledge about the ageing process, changing social roles, common experiences associated with later life, and the importance of maintaining meaningful social relationships as people grow older. It can help learners understand that ageing is a natural stage of life and that older people can continue to contribute valuable knowledge, experience, skills, and perspectives to families and communities. Through discussions, case studies, intergenerational activities, storytelling, and reflective exercises, adults can examine common misconceptions about ageing and develop a more balanced understanding of older people. Such education can also emphasize respectful communication, inclusion, companionship, and appropriate ways of maintaining relationships with older members of society. Willingness to maintain social connections with older people is important because regular social interaction can promote inclusion, mutual understanding, knowledge exchange, and stronger relationships between generations. Adults who are willing to maintain such connections may be more likely to communicate regularly with older people, participate in intergenerational activities, visit them, share experiences, and provide appropriate social support. Ageing education may influence this willingness by increasing adults’ understanding of older people and reducing misconceptions that can discourage interaction. Greater awareness of the value of intergenerational relationships may therefore encourage adults to maintain meaningful connections with older people within families and communities. The study will adopt a suitable descriptive survey research design. The population will comprise adults participating in selected Adult Education programmes and community-based activities, from which an appropriate sample will be selected using a suitable sampling procedure. Data will be collected through a structured questionnaire designed to measure participants’ exposure to ageing education and their willingness to maintain social connections with older people. The research instrument will be subjected to appropriate validation procedures, while its reliability will be established before administration. Data collected will be analyzed using relevant descriptive and inferential statistical techniques to determine the impact of ageing education on adults’ willingness to maintain social connections with older people. The study is expected to establish that ageing education has a positive impact on adults’ willingness to maintain social connections with older people. Adults with greater exposure to ageing education may demonstrate increased readiness to communicate with, visit, interact with, and participate in activities involving older people. The study is also expected to indicate that greater understanding of the ageing process and the contributions of older people can reduce misconceptions and encourage adults to view intergenerational relationships more positively. Practical educational experiences may further strengthen adults’ willingness to maintain meaningful social connections across generations. The findings will have implications for Adult Education practitioners, community organizations, families, and facilitators of intergenerational learning programmes. Incorporating ageing education into adult learning can provide adults with accurate knowledge about later life and opportunities to develop positive attitudes toward older people. Activities such as intergenerational discussions, storytelling sessions, collaborative projects, community visits, and reflective exercises can help adults appreciate the value of social connections across generations. These approaches may encourage adults to maintain more consistent and respectful interactions with older people in their families and communities. The study will be significant to adult learners, older people, families, Adult Education practitioners, community organizations, and community leaders by providing insight into the role of education in strengthening social connections across generations. It will recommend that Adult Education programmes incorporate relevant ageing concepts and practical intergenerational activities that promote understanding, respect, communication, and social inclusion. Community organizations may also create opportunities for adults and older people to interact through shared learning and community activities. The study will conclude that effective ageing education can strengthen adults’ willingness to maintain social connections with older people and contribute to more inclusive and supportive intergenerational relationships.

Keywords: Ageing education, older people, social connections, Adult Education, intergenerational relationships, ageing process, social interaction, social inclusion, intergenerational learning, companionship, social support, older adults, generational interaction, lifelong learning, community relationships