Socialinė teorija, empirija, politika ir praktika
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Financial Crisis, Confidence in Financial Markets and Participation in Private Pension Plans in Germany
Full text linkThe financial crisis of 2008/2009 has not only left its mark on the value of retirement savings, but also on savings and investment behaviour. It has led to a loss of confidence in financial markets and its main protagonists. However, trust is a key mechanism for savings and investment decisions. We illustrate the loss of trust by looking at the number of pension plans purchased in the years following the financial crisis.
The paper is based on data of the study on ‘Life courses and old-age provisions’ (LeA, Lebensverläufe und Altersvorsorge). The data was gathered in 2016 and provides information on the life histories of people living in Germany who were born between 1957 and 1976, as well as on pension entitlements in all three pillars of the German pension system. The analysis concentrates on so-called Riester pension plans, the most dynamic private pension scheme in Germany. We estimate a panel fixed-effects logit model to examine whether the financial crisis had an impact on the participation in Riester pension plans. Results show that instead of a shock effect relating to the crisis years, we see a negative linear effect following the crisis
Life in a State of Limbo – Narratives of Place, Health, and Integration Among Later Life Female Migrants in Sweden
Full text linkInternational migration is a prioritized domain of European aging research. Using a qualitative approach, the author has gathered accounts among Iranian later-life females in the Swedish city of Malmö, suffering from social isolation. The women in this article found themselves in a situation like that of other later-life migrants in Sweden. Several studies have shown how these groups are at risk of ending up in a social isolation which can be hard to break. The situation of the later-life migrant women discussed in this study is characterized by the loss of numerous deep-seated and natural social bonds connected to ethnicity, family, language, and culture. To cope with their exposed situation, the local Iranian-Swedish association provided some self-arranged activities, offering opportunities to social integration. The aim of the study is to demonstrate how the women described their life situation where a local day center made up the key foundation of their social life in a Swedish city in 2000–2008. Typical of that period was that solutions of the alarming situation of some foreign-born elderly citizens were discussed by local authorities, as well as volunteer organizations. Thus, the aim is not to describe the present situation among later life migrants. On the contrary, the perspective is retrospective. The theoretical inspirations used in the article derive from a broader backdrop of social-constructive assumptions that define narratives or accounts as explanations of the reality of everyday life and experiences. In the article the women’s stories are defined as small, local, erratic narratives, nevertheless explaining the reality of everyday life and experiences which in their turn reflect the state of illness, locally specific attachment and social isolation. Three salient themes emerge in the material: place bound experiences, illness and unsuccessful integration. The narratives are defined as small irregular accounts, contrasting larger narratives of later-life migration. The article shows how the women depicted their situation as a borderline between an Iranian life in exile and a Swedish society, leaving them in a state of Limbo. The women expressed ambitions of integrate into a Swedish community of senior citizens, providing privileges and civil rights. Thus, the narratives challenge common generalizing images of later-life migrants and their life conditions
Bevaikystė ir požiūris į rūpinimąsi vyresnio amžiaus tėvais Lietuvoje
Full text linkIn rapidly ageing societies, caring and responsibilities for parents in old age is a widely discussed topic. This is particularly relevant in societies with low fertility and high rates of childlessness. Lithuania is one of the countries where demographic ageing rates have risen sharply in a short period of time. This process has been driven not only by low fertility but also by emigration of middle-aged and young people and increasing life expectancy. There is no lack of research on demographic changes in ageing societies in the country, but very little is known about the attitudes of childless men and women towards caring for their parents in old age. The aim of the study is to determine the attitudes of childless and child-bearing individuals towards parental responsibilities in Lithuania. Our analysis is based on the 2018-2019 ‘Families and Inequality Survey’ dataset collected in Lithuania. The data covers 3,005 individuals aged 34-48 at the time of the survey. The representative sample was obtained by using a stratified sampling method. Face-to-face interviews were carried out with respondents in their homes by using a standardized questionnaire. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square methods. We found that the proportion of men (12.0%) who do not want to have children is statistically significantly higher (p=0.003) than the proportion of women (7.6%). We found that childless people were less likely than those with children to agree with the statement that children should look after their parents. In addition, women were more likely than men to agree with these statements. Our findings are important from a practical point of view – when considering social care and pronatalist policy measures. Research project is financially supported by the Research Council of Lithuania (LMTLT), agreement No. P-MIP-22-24.Sparčiai senėjančiose visuomenėse vaikų pareigos tėvams ir jų priežiūra senatvėje yra plačiai nagrinėjama tema. Vis dėlto apie bevaikių vyrų ir moterų požiūrį į rūpinimąsi tėvais senatvėje yra žinoma mažai. Tyrimo tikslas – nustatyti, koks yra vaikų turinčių ir bevaikių asmenų požiūris į pareigas tėvams Lietuvoje. Analizė remiasi 2018–2019 m. Lietuvoje atlikto „Šeimų ir nelygybių tyrimo“ reprezentatyvios anketinės apklausos duomenimis. Tyrimo imtį sudarė 3 005 asmenys, kuriems apklausos metu buvo 34–48 metai. Duomenys analizuoti naudojant dažnių pasiskirstymo lenteles, dažnių skirtumai vertinti taikant chi kvadrato metodą, vidurkiams palyginti naudotas ANOVA metodas. Nustatyta, kad bevaikiai asmenys rečiau negu vaikų turintys asmenys sutiko su teiginiais, kad vaikai turi rūpintis savo tėvais. Be to, šiems teiginiams dažniau pritarė moterys negu vyrai
COVID-19 Emergency: Boosting Digitalization and a Missed Opportunity for Acquiring Digital Literacy in the Old Population
Full text linkThe COVID-19 crisis has accelerated the adoption of digital content and services, particularly in Italy, a country historically slower in embracing communication technologies (European Commission, 2023). Mobility restrictions have hastened the digitalization of daily life, including communication, entertainment, and utility services (Auditel & Censis, 2022). Older individuals, traditionally less digitally proficient, have faced challenges adapting to this rapid digitalization (Rolandi et al., 2020, NIHR, 2022). However, early evidence suggests that this digital acceleration may not be sufficient to bridge the digital divide, especially among older populations (Litchfield et al., 2021, Colombo et al., 2023). This paper explores the changes occurring in the relationship between older people and new technologies based on data provided by longitudinal qualitative research, which involved a panel of 40 over-65 residents in the Lodigiano region, the first red zone – affected by the pandemic and its restrictions – in Europe. This contribution aims to highlight how active seniors have experienced a transformation in their approach to technology from the onset of the pandemic (2020) to the present day. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and then imported into the NVivo application for content analysis. Grounded Theory (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) was utilized, involving several stages. The analysis also aimed to formulate ideal types for interpreting the diverse approaches to digital adoption among the older population. From the present study, it emerged that the rapid process of digitalization during the COVID-19 pandemic has not effectively bridged the digital divide, but rather widened it. The swift digitalization of public services highlights the challenges in ensuring inclusivity, especially for older individuals. While digitalization can benefit those with support networks, it further marginalizes isolated seniors. Policy-makers need to consider existing caregiver networks to promote digital inclusion among older individuals
Ageless Assets: Social Investment and Active Aging Profiles in Lithuania
Full text linkThis article argues that the aging population significantly affects the welfare state. Social investment strategies could respond to a changed economic and social order by enhancing active aging. While the social investment perspective has been a topic of discussion for decades, certain aspects remain underexplored. This study, therefore, aims to assess the impact of social investments on active aging. The study, based on the social investment approach and active aging model, analyzes quantitative data from Wave 8 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The Lithuania sample included 1437 participants. In the analytical phase, Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis were utilized (SPSS ver. 26). The findings unveil four active aging profiles (low activity, moderate activity, balanced activity, and high activity). The two groups are distinguished by aging conditions, such as poor health, lack of social investment, and high reliance on social benefits. The positive impact of social investment is underscored by the improved aging conditions outlined in the last two profiles. This study enriches the social investment research domain by providing valuable insights into the influence of social investment policies on the lives of older individuals and their potential to age actively
The Home Care Home – An Un-Total Institution. When the Care Home Logic Permeates the Private Space
Full text linkThis article examines how the provision of home care services impact older individuals in Sweden, focusing on how it may subtly institutionalise their daily lives. Domiciliary care is found to negatively impact users’ individuality and independence, contrary to initial intentions of offering an emancipatory alternative to nursing facilities.
The study uses Goffman’s concept of total institutions, operationalised by identifying aspects of everyday life within which institutionalisation manifests itself, including meals, daily rhythmics, and lifestyle choices.
For this article, the experiences of home care users in Sweden were collected in 34 qualitative interviews and 15 observations with respondents aged between 68 and 96 years. The material was examined using theory-driven thematic analysis.
Results show that while some care users find comfort in the structures imposed to their lives, many are faced with limitations related to the tight, minute-timed scheduling and the assembly-line style of care provision. The constraints affect everyday life choices related to eating, sleeping hours, hobbies, and the sense of home, which are all influenced by the care organisation’s work regime and scheduling.
The analysis concludes by proposing the term “home care home”. This designation indicates the challenges to individuality entailed in the home care rationale, while acknowledging that the influence on users is “less-than-total”, as compared to typical institutionalising environments such as prisons or hospitals.
While a total institution is commonly understood as a spatial structure, it also functions as a logic acting regardless of physical constraints – for instance, in a person’s home. Moreover, the study suggests that this logic may be at work anywhere within large-scale production of human services.
In summary, this article addresses the individuality-eroding force ingrained in home care provision and emphasises the need to strengthen users’ influence on care provision in order to increase their independence
The Restructuring of Social Inequalities During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Australia
Full text linkAs the COVID-19 virus began to spread across Australia, a six-week national lockdown was implemented in late March 2020. Australians were largely confined to their homes and nonessential economic and social activities ceased. Subsequently, lockdowns were implemented at various times in various states, territories and regions in response to local outbreaks of the virus. To examine how the restrictions associated with the pandemic impacted on the working lives of young Australians during the 2020 lockdowns, I draw on Life Patterns project data generated from semistructured interviews conducted with 40 participants in September and October 2020. From a class perspective, the lockdowns exacerbated existing inequalities related to occupation. Some participants, such as those in the hospitality sector, were stood down whereas other participants either worked from home (e.g., professionals and white-collar workers) or continued working as usual after being classified as essential workers (e.g., nurses, doctors, security guards). Participants who were stood down immediately were left to fend for themselves until the Federal Government introduced JobKeeper payments. They had to rely on their annual leave, withdraw money from their retirement savings and/ or move in with family or friends just to survive. Participants who were able to keep working saved money due to being confined to home and not be able to socialise or take holidays. Consequently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some participants depleted their savings whereas others had built on their existing wealth
Influence of the Professional Values on Providing Social Work Suport
Full text linkThis article aims at examining the degree of influence of the professional values with regards to activities related to providing support among social work professionals in Bulgaria.
In the survey which was conducted on a voluntary and anonymous basis, 204 social work professionals from the Stara Zagora Region took part. The WIS/SVP method – Scale for assessing professional values was applied.
Examined were the influencing factors referring to professional values and provision of social support. Found out were influencing factors between most of the professional values and the desire to provide assistance and readiness for participation in activities related to providing support. The obtained results place professional values as one of the factors determining the trend for providing assistance and participation in support activities in the field of social work in Bulgaria
Planuojant ateitį: longitudinio moterų karjeros siekių nėštumo ir pogimdyminiu laikotarpiu tyrimo įžvalgos
Full text linkThis longitudinal study delves into the meanings of work for women during a transitional life stage. While the topics of opting out and opting in have garnered considerable attention, certain aspects of career development after childbirth remain underexplored. Existing literature often dichotomizes women into two primary groups, and some theories propose a three-group classification. However, such divisions may be overly simplistic and not universally applicable to all women. The objective of this study is to enhance the understanding of women’s career aspirations. In order to achieve this objective, two waves of individual semi-structured interviews with ten women at two specific time points were conducted: during pregnancy and four to six months postpartum. The results of the study demonstrate that the meaning of work for the research participants varied both during pregnancy and after childbirth. Additionally, some participants had alteredtheir career aspirations after they became mothers. The salience of the new identity as a mother is discussed as a possible precursor explaining adjustments in the career aspirations. This research enriches the discourse on work–life balance preferences by offering valuable insights into how early motherhood shapes women’s career goals, decisions, and expectations.Šis longitudinis tyrimas gilinasi į darbo reikšmes moterims pereinamuoju gyvenimo laikotarpiu. Nors pasitraukimo iš darbo rinkos ir grįžimo į ją temos yra sulaukusios nemažai dėmesio, tam tikri karjeros vystymosi po gimdymo aspektai tebėra nepakankamai ištirti. Esama literatūra dažnai skirsto moteris į dvi pagrindines grupes, o kai kurios teorijos siūlo trijų grupių klasifikaciją. Vis dėlto tokie padalinimai gali būti pernelyg supaprastinti ir nebūtinai pritaikomi visoms moterims. Šio tyrimo tikslas – giliau suprasti moterų karjeros siekius. Siekiant šio tikslo buvo atlikti dviejų bangų - nėštumo metu ir nuo keturių iki šešių mėnesių po gimdymo - individualūs pusiau struktūrizuoti interviu su dešimčia moterų. Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad darbo reikšmė tyrimo dalyvių atžvilgiu skyrėsi tiek nėštumo metu, tiek po gimdymo. Be to kai kurios dalyvės tapusios motinomis pakeitė savo karjeros siekius. Naujos motinos tapatybės svarba aptariama kaip galimas paaiškinimas, kodėl keičiasi karjeros siekiai. Šis tyrimas praturtina darbo ir asmeninio gyvenimo pusiausvyros pasirinkimų diskursą, pateikdamas vertingų įžvalgų, kaip ankstyvoji motinystė formuoja moterų karjeros tikslus, ssprendimus ir lūkesčius
Challenges and Dilemmas Faced by Labor Market Integration Support Providers in Portugal
Full text linkThis research delves into the challenges and dilemmas faced by both professionals and people in vulnerable situations in the process of social and professional inclusion. Grounded in a theoretical framework that underscores the persistent rates of labor exclusion among specific social groups and the fragmented social policies in Portugal, the study aims to understand the structural framework and practices in this field.
This research adopts a qualitative approach to investigate the challenges of the social and professional integration of people in vulnerable situations. For this purpose, the study employs nine in-depth case studies within the context of social economy organizations in Portugal.
The findings illuminate the complex challenges faced by professionals supporting people with complex needs, including the nonlinearity and multifaceted nature of the inclusion process, resource inadequacies, the need for specialized training and guidance, and a labor market unaligned with the needs and abilities of the clients. The study underscores the necessity for a more holistic, supportive, and inclusive approach to address the intricate dynamics of social and professional integration for people in vulnerable situations