<p><em>The objective of this paper is to establish social network typologies of Polish elderly people based on empirical data. Moreover, the aim is to determine the frequency of occurrence of particular network types in Poland and examine the association between the distinguished social network types and older people’s perceptions of the quality of their lives. The analysis was conducted using data collected in 2013 and is available on </em><a href="http://www.diagnoza.com/"><em>www.diagnoza.com</em></a><em>. The data concerns 9673 Polish senior citizens. The cluster analysis was used to form groups of people participating in the analysis. The following three types of social networks among Polish seniors were identified: “diverse”, “family and friends” as well as “restricted”. The restricted type constitutes the most numerous group but it is characterized by the lowest level of well-being. However, the elderly belonging to the diverse network are found to be the most satisfied with the quality of their lives.</em><strong></strong></p>

From the perspective of adult education, the engagement of older people in developing relationships with other people is related to their learning and creating their identities. The research conducted in the areas of various countries shows a relationship between a social participation of seniors and their well-being. Moreover, participation in rich social networks, composed of many people, coincides with a high quality of life. The article focuses on senior citizens functioning in restricted networks (less numerous social networks, consisting of several people).The study is to serve three purposes: firstly, to identify determinants of a subjective assessment of own life of senior citizens living in restricted networks; secondly, to analyse a relationship between seniors’ subjective, general assessment of life and their opinion on what determines a successful and happy life; thirdly, to analyse the relationship between seniors’ subjective, general assessment of life and the ways they handle problematic situations. The analysis has been conducted on the basis of the data collected in 2013, available to the general public on www.diagnoza.com. The data was collected within the Social Diagnosis (Diagnoza społeczna) project. The objective of the Social Diagnosis is an investigation of the conditions and quality of life in Poland. It is based on panel research. A questionnaire has been used as a research tool. The article presents information regarding 5623 individuals, aged 60+functioning in restricted social networks in Poland. The Mann-Whitney U test and the two proportions test helped to analyse the differences between variable distributions. The results show that a poor social life of the elderly does not have to be linked with a feeling of loneliness. The group of individuals with a high level of general satisfaction is more satisfied with a relationship with the family (especially children) than the group with a low level of life satisfaction. The analysis confirms that good relationships with family and friends are an important predictor of life satisfaction of the elderly. Health is considered to be a condition of a successful life by seniors with a high level of life satisfaction, as well as relationships with close family members: with children and a spouse. This group of respondents shows more confidence in other people, by whom they feel loved and confided in. In difficult situations people with a high level of life satisfaction turn to others for help, but they also act themselves. Seniors with a low level of satisfaction differ from the previous group in these terms. These are people who do not feel confided in by others and they also hardly ever turn to others for help. In difficult situations they are more often passive. In conclusion, the author highlights the significance of informal learning occurring in families to enhance older people’s quality of life. It is important, especially in case of poorly educated persons with low incomes who often function in small social networks. Key words: informal learning in the family, life satisfaction of older adults, social participation of seniors.

Objective: The study aims to determine whether educationally active women present signs of transformative learning in their own experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus of the study is the relationship between experiencing transformative learning in a pandemic and the sense of loneliness, received social support, sense of life satisfaction and age. Methods: The study was conducted among 258 educationally active women – part-time students, as well as students of the Universities of the Third Age. Age of the surveyed women: from 19 to 87 years. Data were collected using the online test method. A statistical significance of differences was tested with the U Mann-Whitney test and the two proportion z-test. Results: Most of the surveyed women manifested elements of transformative learning in their experience of the pandemic. Those scoring high on the Transformative Learning in a Pandemic Situation scale have had their life satisfaction decrease to a greater extent than those scoring low. The group scoring high on the Transformative Learning in a Pandemic Situation scale is characterised by a higher sense of loneliness. No relationship was found between perceived manifestations of transformative learning and age, social support, place of residence and education. Discussion: The transformative potential of learning can be seen in a pandemic situation. The obtained data provide arguments supporting the supposition that the feeling of loneliness, influencing the lowering of satisfaction from life, is a factor triggering learning and leading to the change of habits of thinking and acting of educationally active women.

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