{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,19]],"date-time":"2025-11-19T09:43:41Z","timestamp":1763545421229,"version":"3.45.0"},"reference-count":67,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,15]],"date-time":"2025-11-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1763164800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JAL"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Objective: Historically, television has been regarded as the mass medium that is most closely associated with audiences\u2019 needs and expectations. In the context of rapid population ageing, older adults now inhabit a progressively important place in society, and they remain the most frequent consumers of broadcast television. This study investigates the formative role of television among Portuguese older adults\u2014combining informal learning, cognitive engagement, and social connection. It explores how TV contributes to well-being and participation in later life. Methods: An anonymous survey was conducted with 203 participants aged 65 to 94. Results: Television continues to play a fundamental role in older adults\u2019 everyday lives, mitigating loneliness and promoting happiness, information, and life satisfaction. We also saw that higher TV consumption is related with superior income and residence in urban areas. Conclusions: The findings highlight television\u2019s enduring formative and compensatory functions and contribute to ongoing debates on active ageing, media literacy, and digital inclusion among older adults.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jal5040051","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,19]],"date-time":"2025-11-19T08:50:07Z","timestamp":1763542207000},"page":"51","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Exploratory Analysis on Television\u2019s Diverse Functions and Its Formative Role in the Lives of Older Adults in Portugal"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"5","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9087-3168","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luis Miguel","family":"Pato","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Video and Communication Department, Instituto Superior Miguel Torga, 3000-132 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1307-5434","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ricardo","family":"Pocinho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Social Sciences Department, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria-CICS NOVA, 2400 Leiria, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8183-1284","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Patricia","family":"Torrijos Fincias","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Educational Sciences, Salamanca University, 37008 Salamanca, Spain"}]},{"given":"Crist\u00f3v\u00e3o","family":"Margarido","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Social Sciences Department, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria-CICS NOVA, 2400 Leiria, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5519-7515","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Juan Jos\u00e9","family":"Fern\u00e1ndez Mu\u00f1oz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28933 Madrid, Spain"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"PORDATA (2024, November 25). 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