IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i21p8038-d438224.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Maintaining and Supporting Seniors’ Wellbeing through Foreign Language Learning: Psycholinguistics of Second Language Acquisition in Older Age

Author

Listed:
  • Marcel Pikhart

    (Department of Applied Linguistics, Faculty of Informatics and Management, University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove 500 03, Czech Republic)

  • Blanka Klimova

    (Department of Applied Linguistics, Faculty of Informatics and Management, University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove 500 03, Czech Republic)

Abstract

This study concerns aspects of positive psychology connected to foreign language learning (FLL) in an older healthy generation. The positive psychology perspective stresses the positive aspects of improved wellbeing in participants who engage in various activities, particularly mental and brain-training practices. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore older people’s subjective feelings connected to their FLL as one of the crucial ways to improve their quality of life (QoL). The objective of the research was to determine the subjective satisfaction level of the participants of a second language (L2) acquisition course. The research sample (experimental group) consisted of 105 respondents who were Czech citizens and 55+ years old. Two control groups were set up. The first (young control) consisted of 102 young adults (university students), also Czech citizens, aged between 19 and 23 years. The second control group (elderly control) consisted of 102 subjects older than 55 years, similar in age to the experimental group. A standardized online questionnaire survey was the principal research method, identical both for the experimental and control groups. The findings clearly showed that language training significantly improved the subjective positive feelings and wellbeing of the older participants, regardless of their objective progress in FLL itself. These results stood in opposition to the young control group and were different from the elderly control group. The results revealed that FLL is an effective tool for enhancing the overall wellbeing of older people, which was shown in their expression of their feelings of happiness, satisfaction, and positive motivation to learn an L2. In addition, FLL objectively affected their mental health in a positive way and expanded their social networks. Moreover, FLL was a meaningful activity for them, despite the weak objective learning outcomes due to the decline of cognitive functions, helping them find their general purpose of life, as well as life motivation as expressed in the survey. These findings are crucial, as it has already been proven that wellbeing is directly connected with good health and longevity. Therefore, national governments and all stakeholders dealing with the present issue of the aging population should pay undivided attention to the enhancement of older people’s wellbeing by all possible intervention approaches, including FLL. There is limited research into the issue and the findings of this investigation could be an impetus for further research into the topic from the perspectives of cognitive science, psychology, and psycholinguistics.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcel Pikhart & Blanka Klimova, 2020. "Maintaining and Supporting Seniors’ Wellbeing through Foreign Language Learning: Psycholinguistics of Second Language Acquisition in Older Age," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-15, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:21:p:8038-:d:438224
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/21/8038/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/21/8038/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marco Socci & David Clarke & Andrea Principi, 2020. "Active Aging: Social Entrepreneuring in Local Communities of Five European Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-19, April.
    2. Huiyu Zhang & Ying Dai & Yingchong Wang, 2020. "Motivation and Second Foreign Language Proficiency: The Mediating Role of Foreign Language Enjoyment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-13, February.
    3. Ana Gil-Lacruz & Marta Gil-Lacruz & María Isabel Saz-Gil, 2020. "Socially Active Aging and Self-Reported Health: Building a Sustainable Solidarity Ecosystem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-16, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Songyun Zheng & Xiang Zhou, 2022. "Positive Influence of Cooperative Learning and Emotion Regulation on EFL Learners’ Foreign Language Enjoyment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Cristina Gagliardi & Giovanni Lamura, 2021. "Special Issue on “Advances in Socio-Economic Research on Ageing”," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-6, June.
    3. Maria-Anca Maican & Elena Cocoradă, 2021. "Online Foreign Language Learning in Higher Education and Its Correlates during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-21, January.
    4. Elizabeth Wianto & Elty Sarvia & Chien-Hsu Chen, 2021. "Authoritative Parents and Dominant Children as the Center of Communication for Sustainable Healthy Aging," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-18, March.
    5. Qi Ma & Alan H. S. Chan & Pei-Lee Teh, 2020. "Bridging the Digital Divide for Older Adults via Observational Training: Effects of Model Identity from a Generational Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-24, June.
    6. Francesco Barbabella & Eralba Cela & Claudia Di Matteo & Marco Socci & Giovanni Lamura & Pietro Checcucci & Andrea Principi, 2020. "New Multilevel Partnerships and Policy Perspectives on Active Ageing in Italy: A National Plan of Action," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-17, December.
    7. Davide Lucantoni & Andrea Principi & Marco Socci & Marina Zannella & Francesco Barbabella, 2022. "Active Ageing in Italy: An Evidence-Based Model to Provide Recommendations for Policy Making and Policy Implementation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-25, February.
    8. María Isabel Saz-Gil & José Paulo Cosenza & Anabel Zardoya-Alegría & Ana I. Gil-Lacruz, 2020. "Exploring Corporate Social Responsibility under the Background of Sustainable Development Goals: A Proposal to Corporate Volunteering," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-21, June.
    9. Vadim Gaydarenko & Elena Medvedeva & Nataliya Solovyeva & Anastasiia Plakhtii, 2021. "The Use of Information and Communication Technologies to Increase the Motivation of Students When Studying English as a Foreign Language," International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies (IJWLTT), IGI Global, vol. 16(6), pages 1-15, November.
    10. Pichaporn Puntularb & Chakrit Yippikun & Preecha Pinchunsri, 2021. "The Characteristics and Self-Regulation of Undergraduate Students in Online English Learning: A Case Study of A Private University in Thailand," International Journal of Higher Education, Sciedu Press, vol. 10(7), pages 1-34, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:21:p:8038-:d:438224. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.