TY - JOUR

T1 - Re-thinking social exclusion in later life

T2 - A case for a new framework for measurement

AU - MacLeod, Catherine

AU - Ross, Andy

AU - Sacker, Amanda

AU - Netuveli, Gopalakrishnan

AU - Windle, Gillian

PY - 2019/1

Y1 - 2019/1

N2 - Social exclusion is a dynamic multidimensional process that is interactive in nature. The complex interplay between domains, whereby each domain can act as a determinant, indicator and/or outcome of social exclusion, hinders understanding of the process and the mechanisms through which social exclusion exists. This article highlights the need to disentangle these pathways and move beyond descriptive accounts of social exclusion, presenting a new working framework that allows direct hypothesis testing of these between domain relationships. Whilst this working framework can be applied to any population this article focuses on older adults. Life events that can drive social exclusion such as bereavement and changes in health are more likely to occur in later life, and occur more frequently, increasing the risk of social exclusion for this population. Rooted in the new working framework this article presents the construction of later life social exclusion measures for use with Understanding Society - the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Study. The validity of these measures are considered by examining the characteristics of those aged 65years and over who score the highest, and therefore experience the greatest level of exclusion. This new working framework and developed social exclusion measures provide a platform from which to explore the complex relationships between domains of social exclusion and ultimately provide a clearer understanding of this intricate multidimensional process.

AB - Social exclusion is a dynamic multidimensional process that is interactive in nature. The complex interplay between domains, whereby each domain can act as a determinant, indicator and/or outcome of social exclusion, hinders understanding of the process and the mechanisms through which social exclusion exists. This article highlights the need to disentangle these pathways and move beyond descriptive accounts of social exclusion, presenting a new working framework that allows direct hypothesis testing of these between domain relationships. Whilst this working framework can be applied to any population this article focuses on older adults. Life events that can drive social exclusion such as bereavement and changes in health are more likely to occur in later life, and occur more frequently, increasing the risk of social exclusion for this population. Rooted in the new working framework this article presents the construction of later life social exclusion measures for use with Understanding Society - the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Study. The validity of these measures are considered by examining the characteristics of those aged 65years and over who score the highest, and therefore experience the greatest level of exclusion. This new working framework and developed social exclusion measures provide a platform from which to explore the complex relationships between domains of social exclusion and ultimately provide a clearer understanding of this intricate multidimensional process.

KW - Social exclusion

KW - older adults

KW - working framework

KW - United Kingdom

KW - Understanding Society

KW - UKHLS

KW - survey data

U2 - 10.1017/S0144686X17000794

DO - 10.1017/S0144686X17000794

M3 - Article

VL - 39

SP - 74

EP - 111

JO - Ageing and Society

JF - Ageing and Society

SN - 0144-686X

IS - 1

ER -