The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of study circle activities of the new silver generation on the formation of social capital. The topics of this study were: first, to discuss the differences in social capital and study circle acti...
The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of study circle activities of the new silver generation on the formation of social capital. The topics of this study were: first, to discuss the differences in social capital and study circle activities according to participant individual background characteristics in the study circle of the new silver generation; second, to find out how participation types influence the formation of social capital; third, to find out how a participation level influences the formation of social capital; fourth, to find out how a satisfaction level of participants influences the formation of social capital.
For this purpose, the survey was conducted among 404 respondents aged more than 50 years old who were participating in any lifelong learning programs or study circles in Gangneung Lifelong Learning Center, Gangneung Women's Cultural Center, Gangneung Senior Welfare Center, or Gangneung Educational Cultural Center located in Gangneung, Gangwon-do.
SPSS v.21 statistics program was used for statistical analysis of collected data. A factor analysis was performed for a feasibility examination, and the reliability was inspected to verify Cronbach's alpha. Frequency analysis, chi-squared distribution, and univariate analysis were conducted to investigate the differences in social capital and study circle activities according to participant individual background characteristics. Multi regression analysis was carried out to verify the difference of social capital based on study circle activities. Statistically analytic results were shown as follows.
First, we have reviewed participants’ ages, gender, education, marital status, monthly average household income, occupations before retirement to discuss the differences in social capital and study circle activities according to participant individual background characteristics in the study circle of the new silver generation. Participation types of the study circle showed a statistically meaningful difference by gender, ages, and education variables. That is, a higher participation rate in advanced learning-typed circles and social practice-typed circles was shown for older, male rather than female, and spouseless. A longer duration of participation in the study circle was shown for older, male rather than female, >400,000 won and <700,000 won rather than <400,000 won of monthly income earner. Executive positions (leader or manager) in the study circles were more often performed by male rather than female, educated, and professional job holders before retirement. A higher satisfaction of participation in the study circles was shown for younger, female rather than male, educated, and responders living with spouse.
For the difference of social capital based on individual background characteristics, a higher ‘work’ of social capital was shown for younger, female rather than male, and responders living with spouse or children, whereas a higher level of 'Trust' and 'work' was shown for responders living with spouse. Education, income, and retirement status significantly affected the three variables of social capital, namely, higher educated, more income, and still hired responders showed a higher level of social capital. However, former occupation before retirement did not affect social capital.
Second, as the analytical results of the participation types (a further study type, a professional research type, and a social practice type) in the study circles of the new silver generation, a statistically meaningful difference was shown for the variable of ‘Social Participation’, while there was no meaningful relationship for ‘Trust’ and ‘work’ of study participation type and social capital, respectively. It was revealed that a social practice type is an important variable to affect ‘Social Participation.’ In other words, the more people participate on the social-practice typed study circle, the higher ‘Social Participation’ they have.
Third, as the analytical results of the participation level (a participation period, an elapsed time per activity, and a role of participant) of study circle, it was revealed that an elapsed time per activity was related with ‘work’ of social capital, which means that a longer elapsed time per activity increases ‘work’ of social capital. However, there was no statistical relationship with the participation level and ‘Trust’ variable of social capital. In addition, a participation period and a role of participant in the study circle were related with ‘Social Participation’ of social capital, which means that ‘Social Participation’ level of social capital increased as much as executive role is performed, or as much as participation period continues. Fourth, as the analytical results of the study satisfaction, it was revealed that the study satisfaction was meaningfully related with all three variables (‘Trust,’ ‘work,’ and ‘Social Participation’) of social capital. The higher participation satisfaction of study circle people have, the higher level of ‘Trust,’ ‘works,’ and ‘Social Participation’ increased. Namely, a participant satisfaction is the most effective factor to form social capital.
Based on the results above, it was found that the individual background characteristics of the new silver generation influence study circle activities and social capital, and that there was a correlation with study circle activities and the formation of social capital. Especially, it was verified that a participant satisfaction of study circle strongly affects the formation of social capital.
As this study was to increase the attention of the emerging new silver generation in the aging society, and to verify that study circle activities of new silver generation positively influenced the formation of social capital, it is expected that this study significantly contributes to establish
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