The effect of adult learners' learning motivation and barriers on academic satisfaction and university life adjustment: Focusing on universities participating in the Lifelong Education at Universities for Future of Education2.0(LiFE 2.0)

Objectives This study aims to investigate the learning participation motivations and barriers faced by adult learners enrolled in lifelong education colleges, and to examine whether these factors significantly influence their academic satisfaction and adjustment to university life. Methods To achieve this, a survey was conducted among 257 adult learners from three colleges in the Kangwon- Gyeongbuk regions who are participating in the Lifelong Education at Universities for the Future of Education(also known as LiFE 2.0). The survey examined learning participation motivation, barriers, academic satisfaction, and university life adjustment. The collected data were analyzed using frequency analysis, factor analysis, and path analysis in accordance with the research questions. Results First, the learning participation motivations of adult learners did not have a statistically significant effect on their academic satisfaction or adjustment to university life. Second, the learning barriers experienced by adult learners had a statistically significant impact on both their academic satisfaction and university life adjustment. Third, academic satisfaction was found to mediate the relationship between learning barriers and university life adjustment. Put differently, learning barriers significantly influenced academic satisfaction, and academic satisfaction significantly influenced university life adjustment. Conclusions The learning barriers faced by adult learners in the lifelong education colleges were found to significantly affect their academic satisfaction and adjustment to university life. This suggests that removing barriers through improvements in the overall educational environment for adult learners is a crucial issue for promoting lifelong education in universities in the future.