Investigating social networks of older Singaporean learners: a mixed methods approach

ABSTRACT

Lifelong learning is regarded as an important channel in promoting active engagement in later life for aging societies. While most studies depict older learners as a group resilient to engaging in lifelong learning, few have addressed the impacts of their social networks on their participation. Drawing on the nationwide lifelong learning program in Singapore, the study explores the extent older Singaporean adults’ social networks influence their involvement in learning courses and illustrates how those networks matter to their motivations. A mixed methods approach consisting of two network instruments (Name Generator and Position Generator) and in-depth interviews based on 30 older Singaporeans (between 50 and 79 years old) were employed. The findings demonstrated that primary family members (spouse and children) were key discussants for older learners, but the narratives showed only children were key supporters. For female learners, husbands’ support could be limited. Such a gender difference was revealed in overlap networks among couples, with male learners receiving greater positive support from their wives. Furthermore, the results showed that single or widowed learners had more non-kin members and diverse network resources, which reflect in their discourses of being highly motivated and active in spreading news of courses. To conclude, the study delivered deeper understandings of how diverse social contexts influence older learners’ motivations. Future research shall continue to focus on variations of network characteristics and network resources to improve the understanding of how significant others and accessible network resources provide social support or opportunities for older learners.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Wei-Jun Jean Yeung and Leng Leng Thang for supporting the research project. I thank Saharah Abubakar, Losheini Ravindran and Lavanya Balachandran for helping with flyer translations, and Ithank two research assistants – Changzhao Ding and Nang Yeong Kwek for their transcription services.

Many thanks to the Council for the 3rd Age, Ministry of Health, Singapore; the Singapore Association for Continuous Education; and the Institute of Technical Education for providing administrative assistance. Last but not least, I am very thankful to my respondents for their participation in this project and for sharing their experience and viewpoints with me.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Bus Driver, CEO of a large corporation, cleaner, hairdresser/stylist, HR or manager, lawyer, motor mechanic, registered nurse, police officer, secondary teacher, priest (or father, abbot, Taoist priest, monk), journalist, farmer, security guard, member of Parliament, manager of a community club and professor.

Additional information

Funding

The research project was supported by a Research Fieldwork Grant from National University of Singapore [NUS 3115].