Effects of University Programs for Older Adults: Changes in Cultural and Group Stereotype, Self-Perception of Aging, and Emotional Balance

Abstract

University Programs for Older Adults (Programas Universitarios para Adultos Mayores or PUMAs)
\nhave been developed throughout the world as an outcome of two worldwide policies: Life Long
\nLearning (LLL) and Active Aging as a priority direction (UN, 2002). According to these policies,
\nolder persons should become full participants in the development process of a society, sharing in
\nits benefits, while policies and actions should promote a positive view of aging. The present paper
\nsets out to report some of the results from the evaluation of four PUMAs offered in 2009–2010 at
\nfour Universities: Auto´noma University of Madrid (Spain), Auto´noma University of Mexico
\n(Mexico), Catholic University (Chile), and La Habana University (Cuba). With this purpose, a study
\nwith quasiexperimental design and nonequivalent control group was carried out. In total, 313
\nstudents (75% women, age range 50–87) on these four PUMAs and 190 controls (77% female,
\nage range 50–91) participated in this evaluation study. Pre- and postexperimental and control
\ncomparisons results yielded significant differences in the expected direction: those people attending
\nPUMAs significantly improved their self-perception of aging and group stereotypes, as well as
\nsignificantly reduced their negative affect, and improving their emotional balance. At the same time,
\ntheir perception of cultural age stereotypes became more negative. The results are discussed from the
\npoint of view of the II International Plan of Action on Aging objectives: the reduction of negative
\nstereotypes and the promotion of the role of PUMAs in active aging