Special Issues

Social Sciences publishes Special Issues to create collections of papers on specific topics, with the aim of building a community of authors and readers to discuss the latest research and develop new ideas and research directions. Special Issues are led by Guest Editors, who are experts on the topic and all Special Issue submissions follow MDPI's standard editorial process. The journal’s Editor-in-Chief and/or designated Editorial Board Member will oversee Guest Editor appointments and Special Issue proposals, checking their content for relevance and ensuring the suitability of the material for the journal. The papers published in a Special Issue will be collected and displayed on a dedicated page of the journal’s website. Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies and Guest Editor responsibilities can be found here. For any inquiries related to a Special Issue, please contact the Editorial Office.

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Race and Ethnicity Without Diversity
edited by and Denise O’Neil Green
submission deadline 15 Dec 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2549 | Submission Open
Keywords: race; ethnicity; higher education; diversity in higher education
Group Processes Using Quantitative Research Methods
edited by Alison J. Bianchi
submission deadline 21 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 316 | Submission Open
Keywords: group processes; quantitative research methods; theories of group interactions
Exploring Higher Education Access for Displaced Populations
edited by Lisa Unangst
submission deadline 30 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 473 | Submission Open
Keywords: higher education; tertiary education; post-secondary education; refugees; asylum; displacement; migration; college access; student success
Civil Society, Migration and Citizenship
edited by Taku Suzuki
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 4 articles | Viewed by 17348 | Submission Open
Keywords: migrants; asylum seekers; refugees; civil society; states; international organizations; non-governmental organizations; citizenship; legality
(This special issue belongs to the Section International Migration)
Job Stress and Burnout: Emerging Issues in Today’s Workplace
edited by and Beatriz Martin del Rio
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 11747 | Submission Open
Keywords: job stress; burnout; occupational health; well-being at work; mental health at work; organizational intervention; organizational culture
(This special issue belongs to the Section Work, Employment and the Labor Market)
Tackling Educational Inequality: Issues and Solutions
edited by
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 4 articles | Viewed by 6015 | Submission Open
Keywords: educational inequality; graduate employment; socioeconomic status; access to education; labour market outcomes; marginalised groups; policy solutions; social mobility; intersectionality; higher education access
(This special issue belongs to the Section Social Stratification and Inequality)
Public Health and Social Change
edited by Thistle I. Elias and Zoé Mistrale Hendrickson
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 4 articles | Viewed by 5788 | Submission Open
Keywords: health disparities; health equity; community engaged; social justice; qualitative; mixed methods; marginalized communities; vulnerable populations; social determinants of health; evaluation
International Perspectives on Secure Childcare
edited by Caroline Andow, Rachel Dunn, Stefan Kleipoedszus, Nicola Wake, Raymond Arthur and Adeela ahmed Shafi
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 4 articles | Viewed by 5373 | Submission Open
Keywords: secure care; secure alternatives; deprivation of liberty; residential childcare; vulnerable children voice of the child
(This special issue belongs to the Section Childhood and Youth Studies)
Contemporary Work in Understanding and Reducing Domestic Violence
edited by Dean Fido
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 3 articles | Viewed by 4550 | Submission Open
Keywords: domestic abuse; image-based sexual abuse; non-consensual sharing of intimate images; inter-partner violence; sexual coercion; sexual abuse
(This special issue belongs to the Section Family Studies)
Mental Health and Wellbeing in Elderly People: The Forgotten Loneliness
edited by Philip Tyson, Daniel Bowers, Klara Price and Alexis Jones
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 4471 | Submission Open
Keywords: elderly; aged populations; loneliness; mental health; well-being
The Mental Health and Well-Being of Children and Adolescents in the Digital Age
edited by , Philip Mullins and Xun Liu
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3880 | Submission Open
Keywords: well-being; mental health; suicide prevention; family dynamics; substance use; cyberbullying; social media; online safety; school-based interventions
Understanding the Influence of Alternative Political Media
edited by Hélder Prior
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1629 | Submission Open
Keywords: alternative media; journalism; political communication; public sphere; social media; disinformation; polarization; populism; democracy
The Roles of the Media in the Dissemination of Health Information
edited by Xueying Zhang, Ziyuan Zhou and Laura Marshall
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1260 | Submission Open
Keywords: health literary; health crisis; misinformation; health equity; ethics in health media; new media technology in health communication; media and public’ s advocacy of health; health behavior change
Advancing Inclusive Education: Policies, Practices and Cultural Shifts
edited by , and James C. Coviello
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 450 | Submission Open
Keywords: inclusive education; inclusion; disability inclusion; inclusive practices; ableism; curriculum; educational policy; educational leadership; disability studies; equity
Multicultural and Multilingual Education: Inclusion Issues and the Online and Distance Learning Challenge submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 312 | Submission Open
Keywords: multilingual education; multicultural education; diversity in education; migrants; minority learners; migrant learners with special education needs; holistic development; well-being; family– school partnerships; plurilingual pedagogies; inclusive pedagogy; artificial intelligence (AI) in education; online and distance learning (ODL); context-sensitive innovations; educational policy and reform; teacher training
(This special issue belongs to the Section International Migration)
Research on Prisons and Ageing
edited by Julie N. Brancale
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 196 | Submission Open
Keywords: prisons; ageing; older inmates; prison healthcare; prison management; prison victimization; re-entry; correctional officers
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)
Carceral Death: Failures, Crises, and Punishments
edited by Justin Donald Strong
submission deadline 16 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3587 | Submission Open
Keywords: prison mortality; incarceration and health; social suffering; critical prison studies
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)
History Education and Digital Technologies in Populist Times
edited by
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 430 | Submission Open
Keywords: history education; digital technologies; digital education; populisms; critical thinking; historical evidence
Fostering Intercultural Citizenship through Education: Burning Topics and Ethical Challenges
edited by
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 6881 | Submission Open
Keywords: intercultural citizenship; education; burning topics; ethics; values; challenges; teachers’ roles
The Embodiment of LGBTQ+ Inclusive Education
edited by Catherine Lee and Adam Brett
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 5820 | Submission Open
Keywords: LGBTQ+ inclusion; equity; diversity; education; schools; further and higher education; gender; sexuality; identity; embodiment
(This special issue belongs to the Section Childhood and Youth Studies)
Global and Virtual Sociological Teaching—Challenges & Opportunities
edited by Heying Jenny Zhan
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 4956 | Submission Open
Keywords: sociological teaching; global perspectives; virtual classrooms; pedagogy; critical thinking; new technology
The Impact of Social Connectedness on Older Adults’ Wellbeing
edited by
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2199 | Submission Open
Keywords: social connectedness; active aging; wellbeing; social relationships; social support; activity participation; interpersonal networks
(This special issue belongs to the Section Family Studies)
The Impact of Social Media on Social Mobilization submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 449 | Submission Open
Keywords: social media and activism; online and offline mobilization; algorithmic influence on social movements; misinformation and protest; slacktivism vs. real-world action; surveillance and digital repression; hashtag movements; the digital divide in activism
The Role of Poverty and Inequality: A Focus on Housing Insecurity, Homelessness and Social Policies
edited by Shane Warren
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 286 | Submission Open
Keywords: inequality; poverty; housing insecurity; homelessness; social policy
(This special issue belongs to the Section Social Stratification and Inequality)
Reimagining Higher Education Through Design Justice and Inclusive Practices
edited by Erin Boyce, Katrina Little, Matthew Drake and
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 277 | Submission Open
Keywords: equity; justice; inclusivity; curriculum development; decolonizing practices; mentoring; tutoring; community-based practices; belonging; degree attainment
Substance Use and Child Welfare: Intersecting Crises
edited by and Kasey Claborn
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 231 | Submission Open
Keywords: substance use disorder; child welfare; prevention; treatment and recovery; family-centered intervention; child and family outcomes
(This special issue belongs to the Section Childhood and Youth Studies)
Power, Partnership, and Parenthood: A Gender Lens on Male Involvement in Maternal and Child Health
edited by
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 180 | Submission Open
Keywords: gender and health; male involvement; maternal and child health; masculinities; gender equity
Achieving Sustainability through Educational Advances: Deep Dives into Social, Economic, and Environmental Perspectives submission deadline 1 Feb 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 11981 | Submission Open
Keywords: education; sustainable development; social dimension; economic dimension; environmental dimension; educational specialties; specific curriculum; specialized practices; pedagogy; teaching
(This special issue belongs to the Section Social Economics)
Sexual Violence in the Media: Exploring the Role of Journalism in Reflecting, Mediating and (de)Constructing Perceptions and Imageries of Sexual Violence
edited by Sofia José Santos and
submission deadline 1 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 2306 | Submission Open
Keywords: sexual violence; media; rape; intersectionality; journalism; representations; audiences
Research on LGBTQIA2S+ Aging and Well-Being
edited by Lara Descartes
submission deadline 1 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 365 | Submission Open
Keywords: LGBTQ; LGBTQIA2S+; aging; adult development; critical theory; feminist; gender; health; healthy aging; intersectionality; life course; queer; well-being
Intimate Relationships in Diverse Social and Cultural Contexts
edited by Pan Wang and
submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 7370 | Submission Open
Keywords: intimacy; love; courtship; sex; marriage; emotion; romance; affection; partnership; relationship
(This special issue belongs to the Section Family Studies)
Organizational Strategies to Combat Workplace Bullying and Foster Inclusion
edited by Annabelle Neall
submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3161 | Submission Open
Keywords: workplace bullying; workplace harassment; evidence-based interventions; inclusion; employee-well-being
(This special issue belongs to the Section Work, Employment and the Labor Market)
The Role of Support in Mitigating the Impact of Family Imprisonment on Children and Families submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 491 | Submission Open
Keywords: children of criminalized individuals; development; familial imprisonment; families; intersectionality; marginalization; need-based support; stigma; silence; voice; wellbeing
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)
Contemporary Community Social Services: Issues and Challenges submission deadline 27 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 416 | Submission Open
Keywords: community social services; social innovation; digital transformation; quality; strategic development; occupational hazards; professional wellbeing; intersectionality; governance
Break the Chains: Global Efforts in Eradication and Prevention of Human Trafficking
edited by Cathryn Lavery
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 9043 | Submission Open
Keywords: human trafficking; sexploitation; slavery; labor trafficking; drug trafficking; mules; terrorism; asylum; task forces; global health; illegal servitude; wildlife trafficking
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)
Impact of Rape and Sexual Violence on the Relationships of Survivors
edited by
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 4764 | Submission Open
Keywords: rape; sexual violence; survivors; relationship challenges; victim blaming; social stigma; shame
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)
Social Media Effects on Political Participation
edited by Charu Uppal, and Ramesh Rao
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 1478 | Submission Open
Keywords: social media; social network sites; political participation; citizen journalism; legacy media and trust; libel and disinformation; citizen empowerment; anonymity on SM
Big Data and Political Communication
edited by Ana María Velasco Molpeceres, and
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 904 | Submission Open
Keywords: big data; political communication; populism; social media influence; micro-targeting; political polarization; misinformation; data privacy; electoral integrity; digital regulation
Using Psychodynamic Principles to Advance Professional Practice, Education and Research in Health, Social Care and Social Work
edited by Patricia Cartney and Shelly Allen
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 266 | Submission Open
Keywords: psychodynamic approaches; professional practice; social work education; social care
The Role of Caregiving for Older Family Members in Communities
edited by Vincent W.P. Lee
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 247 | Submission Open
Keywords: informal caregivers; family caregiving; ageing society; mental health; physical health; social care; caregiver-friendly environments
(This special issue belongs to the Section Family Studies)
The Public Child Welfare System: Discourses on Research, Practice and Policy
edited by Marian Harris and
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 163 | Submission Open
Keywords: children; youth and families; child welfare; foster care; racial disproportionality; permanency planning; family reunification; kinship care; child abuse and neglect; trauma informed practice; child safety; incarceration; ACEs; poverty and child neglect
(This special issue belongs to the Section Childhood and Youth Studies)
Hidden Workers in the Ageing World
edited by , Woojin Kang and Lu Yang
submission deadline 30 Mar 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1373 | Submission Open
Keywords: hidden workers; unemployed; underemployed; discouraged workers; long-term unemployed; labor underutilization; intersectionality; health inequity; health poverty
(This special issue belongs to the Section Work, Employment and the Labor Market)
Disasters, Social Movements, Policy Responses and Sociocultural Evolution
edited by Christopher K. Chase-Dunn
submission deadline 31 Mar 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 21199 | Submission Open
(This special issue belongs to the Section Contemporary Politics and Society)
Mindfulness in Social Work: Special Issue Exploring Current Application and Potential in Social Work Practice and Education
edited by and
submission deadline 31 Mar 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 13463 | Submission Open
Keywords: mindfulness and critical mindfulness; social work practice; social work education; social work research; self-care in social work; anti-oppressive practice; mindfulness for social change
(This special issue belongs to the Section Social Policy and Welfare)
The Social and Emotional Wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Young People
edited by
submission deadline 31 Mar 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 9048 | Submission Open
Keywords: LGBTQ+; wellbeing; young people; emerging adults; gender; identity
(This special issue belongs to the Section Gender Studies)
Equity Interventions to Promote the Sexual Health of Young Adults submission deadline 31 Mar 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 5466 | Submission Open
Keywords: youth; diversity; sexual health; equity; policies
Social Conflict, Migration and Forced Labour: Contemporary and Emerging Issues
edited by Craig Paterson
submission deadline 31 Mar 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 4922 | Submission Open
Keywords: conflict; displacement; forced labour; migration; climate change; trafficking; human rights
(This special issue belongs to the Section Work, Employment and the Labor Market)
Advances in Environmental Policy/Politics and Sustainable Development Goals
edited by
submission deadline 31 Mar 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1034 | Submission Open
Keywords: environmental governance; environmental communication; climate resilience; policy innovation; circular economy; activism; transnational cooperation; equity; multilevel governance; justice
Policying and Policing: The Governance of Refugee/(Im)migrant Education in an Age of Hostility—2nd Edition
edited by Jill Koyama, Adnan Turan and
submission deadline 31 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 560 | Submission Open
Keywords: refugee education; education policy; education equity
Community Engagement in Education: Diverse Stakeholders Share Their Roles in Educational Policy and Practice
edited by Catherine Hands
submission deadline 31 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 340 | Submission Open
Keywords: community involvement; community engagement in education; school-community relations; social context; educational reform; K-12 education; higher education; educational partnerships; collaboration
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