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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Group Processes Using Quantitative Research Methods
edited by Alison J. Bianchi
submission deadline 21 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 339 | 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 486 | 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 | 5 articles | Viewed by 18217 | 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 | 3 articles | Viewed by 12643 | 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 6329 | 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 6022 | Submission Open
Keywords: health disparities; health equity; community engaged; social justice; qualitative; mixed methods; marginalized communities; vulnerable populations; social determinants of health; evaluation
Contemporary Work in Understanding and Reducing Domestic Violence
edited by Dean Fido
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 3 articles | Viewed by 4718 | 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 4717 | 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 4079 | 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 1941 | Submission Open
Keywords: alternative media; journalism; political communication; public sphere; social media; disinformation; polarization; populism; democracy
Advancing Inclusive Education: Policies, Practices and Cultural Shifts
edited by , and James C. Coviello
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 474 | 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 337 | 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 203 | 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 3966 | 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 444 | 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 7105 | 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 6461 | 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 5237 | 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 2378 | 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 492 | 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 296 | 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 285 | 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 241 | 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 186 | 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 12329 | 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 2366 | 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 443 | 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 7957 | 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 3347 | 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 511 | 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)
Restorative Justice Practices Within Higher Education and the Arts: Addressing Complex Legacies of Harm
edited by , , Mariann Skahan, Kathy L. Powers and Pamela Agoyo
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1740 | Submission Open
Keywords: feminist decoloniality in higher education; histories of higher education; restorative practices in higher education; social movements for educational equity; marginalized groups; secondary marginalization; Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs); Native American faculty and students; Black faculty and students; disability studies; DACA and undocumented students in higher education; restorative practices in the arts; minority-serving institutions (MSIs); healing and reclamation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)
Contemporary Community Social Services: Issues and Challenges submission deadline 27 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 429 | 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 9406 | 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 5062 | 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 1508 | 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 972 | 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 281 | 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 265 | 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 170 | 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 1418 | 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 21711 | 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 submission deadline 31 Mar 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 13782 | 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 9404 | 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 5686 | 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 5260 | 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 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1274 | 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 577 | 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 356 | Submission Open
Keywords: community involvement; community engagement in education; school-community relations; social context; educational reform; K-12 education; higher education; educational partnerships; collaboration
Planning Inclusive Communities: Applying Transformative Research Methods
edited by Lisa Stafford
submission deadline 31 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 315 | Submission Open
Keywords: inclusive communities and cities; transformative research; social justices; spatial justice; disability; planning; creative methods; place; inclusive methods; practice-based
(This special issue belongs to the Section Community and Urban Sociology)
Credibility and Public Belief in the Contemporary Digital Information Environment
edited by
submission deadline 31 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 248 | Submission Open
Keywords: information credibility; digital communication; belief formation; misinformation and disinformation; media trust; public opinion; institutional legitimacy; media literacy; digital publics; behavioral response
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