Challenges for Social Inclusion of Older Adults in Liquid Modernity

A special issue of Societies (ISSN 2075-4698).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2025 | Viewed by 1372

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Interests: social participation of older people; civic engagement of older people; generativity

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Interests: social participation of older people; civic engagement of older people; generativity

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Interests: disability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Societies examines the barriers and opportunities that older adults face in achieving social inclusion within the framework of "liquid modernity". Coined by Zygmunt Bauman, this concept describes a society marked by fluidity, instability, and the weakening of traditional structures that once supported social cohesion. In this constantly changing era, traditional support networks that contributed to the social inclusion of older adults—such as family, community, and public institutions—have shifted or weakened, creating a landscape in which older people are at an increased risk of exclusion and marginalization. This Issue focuses on understanding and proposing solutions to counter these challenges, highlighting how social participation can act as a crucial driver for the meaningful inclusion of older adults in a society increasingly characterized by individualization and digitalization.

This Special Issue invites multidisciplinary contributions to explore social inclusion from perspectives such as social work, sociology, gerontology, psychology, public policy, and health sciences. Key thematic areas include:

  • Active citizenship of older people:
    • Civic engagement and generativity of the older people;
    • Community participation of older people;
    • Environmental activism in the elderly;
  • Social structures and opportunities for participation of the elderly in the era of liquid modernity:
    • Labor market, retirement, and economic participation;
    • Intergenerational relationships;
    • Loneliness and social isolation;
    • Social representations of aging;
    • Genre and older women;
  • Public policy and social services for sustainable aging:
    • Urbanism/ruralism and age-friendly cities;
    • Health, well-being, and active aging;
    • Technology and aging.

The primary purpose of this Issue is to provide an in-depth analysis of social participation as a pillar of inclusion for older adults, creating a foundation for developing public policies and social strategies that promote effective and dignified inclusion. By offering a platform to examine both exclusion factors and integration opportunities, this Special Issue aims to create a society where older adults are not only present but also active and valued. Through these papers, the Issue seeks to promote a paradigm shift toward “active citizenship” for older adults, recognizing and appreciating their role in decision-making, intergenerational dialogue, and community life. This shift is essential in liquid modernity, where isolation and loneliness are increasing risks for this population.

This Special Issue brings a unique and necessary perspective to the literature on aging and society by addressing social inclusion within the framework of liquid modernity—a context that adds complexity and urgency to traditional challenges. While a significant portion of the literature on aging focuses on individual well-being, physical health, and quality of life, this Issue emphasizes the importance of social participation in fostering cohesion and a sense of belonging amid constant change. It also broadens existing research by underscoring the need to create new participation platforms that cater to older adults' interests, abilities, and needs, particularly in digital and urban environments. Including topics such as accessibility in city design, assistive technology, and the social representation of aging expands the scope of current research on active aging and citizenship for older adults. Furthermore, it will provide a renewed perspective on fostering intergenerational solidarity and strengthening community bonds, contributing to a more inclusive and resilient society.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 400–600 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the guest editors (mamezcua@ujaen.es; armartin@ujaen.es; cortes@ujaen.es) or to the Societies editorial office (societies@mdpi.com). Abstracts will be reviewed by the guest editor for the purposes of ensuring proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Contributions have to follow one of the three categories of papers (article, conceptual paper or review) of the journal and address the topic of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

Tentative Completion Schedule:

  • Abstract submission deadline: 7 February 2025
  • Notification of abstract acceptance: 1 April 2025
  • Full manuscript deadline: 1 July 2025

Dr. Teresa Amezcua-Aguilar
Dr. Antonia Rodríguez Martínez
Dr. Javier Cortés Moreno
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as conceptual papers are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Societies is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • aging and well-being
  • social inclusion
  • social participation
  • intergenerational relationships
  • digitalization and aging
  • active citizenship
  • isolation and loneliness
  • public policy for aging
  • assistive technology
  • community integration

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 442 KiB  
Article
The Social and Citizen Participation of Older People as a Factor for Social Inclusion: Determinants and Challenges According to a Technical Expert Panel
by Francisco Francés-García, Clarisa Ramos-Feijóo and Asunción Lillo-Beneyto
Societies 2025, 15(7), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15070185 - 3 Jul 2025
Abstract
The social and civic participation of older adults has proven to be an asset that positively influences the dynamics of social inclusion that affect them, and expert opinion from international organisations calls for its inclusion in the development of public policies in response [...] Read more.
The social and civic participation of older adults has proven to be an asset that positively influences the dynamics of social inclusion that affect them, and expert opinion from international organisations calls for its inclusion in the development of public policies in response to the increasing longevity worldwide. However, the characteristics of this participation have not been sufficiently analysed. The main objective of this study was to test the explanatory capacity of an operational proposal relating to the participation of older people based on a multidimensional participation structure. Four dimensions were established: two relating to social participation (associations and volunteering and public sociability) and two linked to citizen participation (political and electoral participation, as well as active citizenship and civic engagement). Based on the proposal, a technical expert panel (TEP) was asked to identify the main participation challenges faced by older people across the four dimensions identified. Consensus was sought using prioritisation matrices. The results showed, among other issues, the key role of the dimensions of citizen participation in identifying participation challenges that have an impact on social inclusion. The political and electoral participation dimension had a specific weight regarding the challenges linked to current problems and characteristics. On the other hand, the active citizenship and civic engagement dimension was oriented towards the challenges linked to desirable conditions and recommended initiatives in the future to improve the impact of older people’s participation. The expert panel’s statements coincide with the recommendations of international organisations on the need to involve older persons in policymaking from a perspective of comprehensive and person-centred care. This provides a concrete response to people’s demands and fosters bottom-up planning policies that contribute to social cohesion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges for Social Inclusion of Older Adults in Liquid Modernity)
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23 pages, 264 KiB  
Article
Wisdom: A Cultural Demand on Older Adults in Rural and Urban Areas
by Angelica García-Mendez, Samana Vergara-Lope, Roberto Lagunes-Córdoba and Sacramento Pinazo-Hernandis
Societies 2025, 15(6), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15060156 - 3 Jun 2025
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Abstract
Culture encompasses, among other things, the ways of living, feeling, and thinking of a social group and is transmitted from one generation to the next. In part, this transmission is accomplished by older adults. Generative cultural demand refers to the perception that older [...] Read more.
Culture encompasses, among other things, the ways of living, feeling, and thinking of a social group and is transmitted from one generation to the next. In part, this transmission is accomplished by older adults. Generative cultural demand refers to the perception that older adults have of what society and their families expect them to contribute to the benefit of younger generations and the communities in which they live. This phenomenological study explores generative cultural demand. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 older adults between the ages of 61 and 89 from urban and rural areas in Mexico. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed through content analysis using the MAXQDA program. The results show that the main category of cultural demand was wisdom, conceived as the transmission of experiences, knowledge, behavior, traditions, and values, which varied by sex and by type of urban or rural area. In rural areas, women emphasized the transmission of experiences about daily life, while men focused on matters of labor; in urban areas, both men and women highlighted the transmission of personal experiences. Participants considered themselves to be appreciated, still capable of contributing to society, and as a reservoir of knowledge, traditions, values, and principles useful to future generations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges for Social Inclusion of Older Adults in Liquid Modernity)
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