BiLeQua
Project Heads: Prof. Dr. Katrin Kaufmann-Kuchta, Dr. Sarah Widany & Prof. Dr. Harm Kuper
Applicants: Prof. Dr. Katrin Kaufmann-Kuchta (DIE Bonn - Deutsches Institut für Erwachsenenbildung Leibniz-Zentrum für Lebenslanges Lernen); Dr. Sarah Widany (DIE Bonn - Deutsches Institut für Erwachsenenbildung Leibniz-Zentrum für Lebenslanges Lernen); Dr. Maja Wiest (ehem. Ev. Hochschule Berlin); Prof. Dr. Harm Kuper (FU Berlin)
Research Scientists: Dr. Maja Wiest; Madlain Hoffmann, M.A.
Student Assistant: Julie Merkel
Project Term: 02/2016 - 07/2019
Adults educational behavior and quality of life in the second half of life.
In an ageing society, it is significant to assess the impact of educational activities in the second half of life on the quality of life. A high level of education is positively associated with quality of life. But, insights on the additional impact of educational activities, like participation in courses or informal learning, in the second half of life are missing. Based on secondary data of the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) and the German Ageing Survey (DEAS) the interdisciplinary research project investigates
(1) patterns of adults educational behavior in the second half of life and
(2) the relationship between patterns of educational behavior and aspects of quality of life (e.g. health, subjective well-being, social relations, mental resources) in the second half of life.
With regard to (1) functional and temporal dimensions of formal, non-formal and informal education activities are systematized and illustrated, taking into account specific constellations of opportunity structures and participation. Multivariate analyses examine interdependencies of individual and contextual factors over the life course. Based on the results of research question (1), the impact of educational activities in the second half of life on the quality of life are tested (2). The results of (1) and (2) are transferred into a set of indicators, informing about the non-monetary returns of educational activities in the second half of life.