Exclusion from Social Relations in Later Lifeand the Role of Gender: A Heuristic Model

• Being socially connected is a universal human need, but a substantial number ofolder men and women are or become excluded from these connections in later life. Exclusionfrom social relations (ESR) is unwanted as it undermines people’s ability to lead a healthy,active, and independent life. Policies to reduce this form of exclusion have been limited ineffectiveness, due in part to a broader lack of knowledge about the dynamics of socialexclusion in older ages and the intersection of social exclusion with gender constructions. Toadvance our understanding of ESR in later life, we develop a heuristic model based on theoriesand previous empirical studies. Considering the gendered constructing forces of ESR in olderage that can potentially lead to loneliness and reduced health and wellbeing, the modelidentifies individual drivers, such as biopsychosocial conditions, personal standards and life--course transitions, and macro-level drivers, such as norms and welfare state provisions. Thismodel can serve as a conceptual platform for further theoretical development and empiricalstudy on the gendered construction of ESR in later life. While our focus is on drivers of ESRand its outcomes, potential reversed effects are also discussed.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

social exclusion

social relations

older age

gender

life course

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)