Contributions of university activities to active aging: grounded theory*

Abstract

Objective: To understand the contributions of university activities for active aging of elderly people committed to the Open University for the Third Age program. Method: This is a qualitative study guided by Symbolic Interactionism as a theoretical framework and by the Grounded Theory as a methodological framework. Data were collected between April and October 2020, through individual interviews with the elderly, coordinators, and professors of an Open University for the Third Age. The software Atlas.ti ® was used to support the analysis, which took place through open, axial, and integration coding. Results: Participation in university activities contributed to strengthening the pillars that support the active aging policy. Contributions were driven by lifelong learning, included in the program through nonformal continuing education, which optimized opportunities for the elderly’s health, participation, and safety. Conclusion: The contributions arising from participation in university activities favor the (re)construction of the elderly’s resilience in coping with everyday situations.