Abstract:
Background: Current models of health and well-being emphasise the importance of communities, with the role of social connectedness, service access and community participation in healthy ageing increasingly acknowledged. Whilst the importance of social participation is now widely recognised, our understanding of who participates and why, especially in later life, is more limited.
Methods: Social participation was conceptualised within three domains: service provision and access, social relations and resources, and civic participation. Data for participants aged 65 years and over from waves 1-3 of Understanding Society – the UK Household Longitudinal Study are analysed, considering key socio-demographic characteristics, including age, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic position, country of residence and health.
Results: Stark differences in social participation were found by many of the socio-demographic characteristics. Multivariate models consider which of the potentially modifiable determinants independently predict greater social participation.
Conclusions: Greater understanding of the determinants of social participation provides insight into potential opportunities to minimise social exclusion, and consequently improve health and well-being.