Life satisfaction, satisfacion with educational programs and satisfaction of basic psychological needs of regular and part-time students of educational programs for elderly

Cilj istraživanja bio je ispitati zadovoljstvo životom i studijem/pohađanjem obrazovnih programa, te stupanj zadovoljenosti osnovnih psiholoških potreba skupine osoba mlađe odrasle dobi, tj. redovnih studenata psihologije, i skupine osoba starije odrasle dobi, tj. polaznika obrazovnih programa na Sveučilištu za treću životnu dob u Zagrebu (STŽD). U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 100 studenata (75 žena i 25 muškaraca, M dob = 19.97, SD dob = 1.10) i 100 polaznika STŽD (80 žena i 20 muškaraca, M dob = 70.23, SD dob = 6.02). Rezultati ukazuju na viši stupanj zadovoljenosti potreba za kompetencijom i autonomijom kod osoba starije odrasle dobi u odnosu na osobe mlađe odrasle dobi, te na viši stupanj zadovoljstva životom kod osoba mlađe odrasle dobi u odnosu na osobe starije odrasle dobi. Stupanj zadovoljenosti osnovnih psiholoških potreba pokazao se pozitivno povezanim sa zadovoljstvom životom i sa samoprocjenom psihičkog zdravlja kod svih sudionika.The aim of this study was to examine life satisfaction, satisfaction with studying or attending educational programs, and degree of satisfaction of basic psychological needs of young adults (regular students of psychology) and of older adults (participants of educational programs for elderly). Participants were 100 young adults, students (75 women and 25 men, M age = 19.97, SD age = 1.10) and 100 older adults (80 women and 20 men, M age = 70.23, SD age = 6.02). Findings indicate higher degree of satisfaction of needs for competence and autonomy among older adults than among younger adults, but higher degree of life satisfaction among younger adults than among the older ones. Basic psychological needs were positively correlated with life satisfaction as well as with mental health among all participants