The implementation of the family's educational mission through adult continuing education

Abstract

The gap between highly skilled adults and those without qualifications is increasingly widening, particularly in the pedagogical domain of education and family support. The provision of continuous adult education, specifically addressing family relationships—such as those between spouses, between parents and children, and between siblings—emerges as a key issue in the field of lifelong learning. It is also crucial for fostering positive relational changes, personal development, and social progress and well-being. This study presents, for the first time, the findings of a recent exploratory mixed-methods investigation conducted across four continents (Europe, America, Asia, and Africa), involving a sample of 386 adults. The study aims to evaluate the positive impact of longitudinal personal and family education and support programmes on the living conditions and lifestyles of individuals and families. The findings highlight several factors that may influence resilience, prosocial behaviour, and personal and family well-being, regardless of socio-cultural and economic conditions, in times of global crisis, such as the recent pandemic. Moreover, the study opens new epistemic avenues for pedagogical research.