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The Engagement of Older People in Civil Society Organizations

Principi, Andrea ; Chiatti, Carlos LU ; Lamura, Giovanni and Frerichs, Frerich (2012) In Educational Gerontology 38(2). p.83-106
Abstract

This article reviews recent international literature on the opportunities and restrictions experienced by older people to act as volunteers in civil society organizations. Our aim was to develop a conceptual framework applicable to the European ageing society. This aim was pursued through a computerized database search focused on studies analyzing the individual, organizational, and/or societal levels. Findings show that senior volunteers are characterized by "younger" age, good health, and a high level of both educational and socioeconomical status. Volunteers are involved mainly in religious organizations as well as in social and personal care, while main barriers are represented especially by ageist practices. The review shows that... (More)

This article reviews recent international literature on the opportunities and restrictions experienced by older people to act as volunteers in civil society organizations. Our aim was to develop a conceptual framework applicable to the European ageing society. This aim was pursued through a computerized database search focused on studies analyzing the individual, organizational, and/or societal levels. Findings show that senior volunteers are characterized by "younger" age, good health, and a high level of both educational and socioeconomical status. Volunteers are involved mainly in religious organizations as well as in social and personal care, while main barriers are represented especially by ageist practices. The review shows that the debate on this topic has been barely developed in Europe, both from an individual and societal point of view. Therefore, European countries might take advantage from experiences made in other contexts, but the identification of how this can occur requires further and more specific cross-national research.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
in
Educational Gerontology
volume
38
issue
2
pages
83 - 106
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:84858607790
ISSN
0360-1277
DOI
10.1080/03601277.2010.515898
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
1c3cf618-df6e-4b91-82b0-d97b96447172
date added to LUP
2018-08-07 15:06:11
date last changed
2023-08-24 12:58:35
@article{1c3cf618-df6e-4b91-82b0-d97b96447172,
  abstract     = {{<p>This article reviews recent international literature on the opportunities and restrictions experienced by older people to act as volunteers in civil society organizations. Our aim was to develop a conceptual framework applicable to the European ageing society. This aim was pursued through a computerized database search focused on studies analyzing the individual, organizational, and/or societal levels. Findings show that senior volunteers are characterized by "younger" age, good health, and a high level of both educational and socioeconomical status. Volunteers are involved mainly in religious organizations as well as in social and personal care, while main barriers are represented especially by ageist practices. The review shows that the debate on this topic has been barely developed in Europe, both from an individual and societal point of view. Therefore, European countries might take advantage from experiences made in other contexts, but the identification of how this can occur requires further and more specific cross-national research.</p>}},
  author       = {{Principi, Andrea and Chiatti, Carlos and Lamura, Giovanni and Frerichs, Frerich}},
  issn         = {{0360-1277}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{02}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{83--106}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{Educational Gerontology}},
  title        = {{The Engagement of Older People in Civil Society Organizations}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2010.515898}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/03601277.2010.515898}},
  volume       = {{38}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}