Participation of Spanish older people in educational courses: The role of sociodemographic and active ageing factors

Abstract
This study examines the factors associated with participation in educational courses among Spanish older people. Data were drawn from the Survey on Older People 2010, carried out by Spain’s National Institute of Older People and Social Services and based on a nationally representative sample. Overall, only 7.4 percent of the sample participated in an educational course.

To analyse the factors related to this participation, we ran multivariate analyses using sociodemographic background data and participation in different kinds of active ageing activities. Gender, location, age, leisure activities, volunteering and political activity were found to be predictors of participation in educational courses. Leisure and productive activities showed greater predictive value for participation in educational courses than sociodemographic variables. In the light of the data, policies to promote older people’s participation in educational courses are discussed.