Beyond individual traits: differential associations of social support profiles with resilience in older learners

BackgroundLifelong learning is a vital pathway for fostering social integration and psychological well-being among older adults. This study examines the differential associations of social support and challenge patterns with resilience in older learners from a social-ecological perspective. Moving beyond the traditional focus on individual demographic traits, this study identifies multidimensional environmental factors, including family, school, and community support, as well as perceived learning barriers, to construct a Support-Challenge ecological analysis framework.MethodsK-means cluster analysis and robust Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were employed to empirically analyze survey data collected from 1,783 older learners across 26 educational and residential learning sites in China.ResultsFour distinct social support profiles among older learners were identified: Isolated-Comfortable, Balanced, Greenhouse-Empowered, and Supported-Challenged. Ecological configurations demonstrated significantly greater explanatory power for resilience than individual demographic characteristics. Notably, the Supported-Challenged group exhibited the highest levels of resilience, whereas the Isolated-Comfortable group demonstrated the lowest.ConclusionThese findings suggest that challenge and support synergistically influence the development of resilience in later life. Additionally, gender and education level serve as key factors predicting membership in different social support profiles. By integrating the dual dimensions of support and challenge, this study reveals the optimal ecological niche for resilience development, offering practical pathways for constructing empowering older adult learning ecosystems.