Participation of U3A students in virtual activities during the Covid-19 pandemic
S. K. Mateus, L. J. Lorenzi, P. C. Castro
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AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic emerged swiftly and unexpectedly, bringing about significant changes in individuals’ health, particularly among older adults. Due to the imperative of social isolation during the pandemic, many educational and health promotion programs transitioned from in-person to virtual delivery, including initiatives such as the Universities for the Third Age (U3A). U3As serve as venues for lifelong learning, fostering knowledge, leisure, education, and socialization. However, the integration of technology among older adults poses a challenge for the community, as many face difficulties in navigating these technologies. Such challenges may impede participation in virtual activities, such as those offered by U3As during the pandemic, and diminish the social interaction facilitated by these platforms (Blanco, Cesário & Castro, 2021). Therefore, the objective of this study is to identify whether older individuals participating in a U3A engaged in virtual activities during the COVID-19 pandemic and whether they had previous experience or initiated the use of information and communication technology (ICT) during this period.Keywords: healthy aging, health promotion, Covid-19, technology
S. K. Mateus, L. J. Lorenzi, P. C. Castro (2024). Participation of U3A students in virtual activities during the Covid-19 pandemic. Gerontechnology, 23(2), 1-1
https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2024.23.s.977.opp