Social Exclusion in Later Life: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Abstract

In the last decade, there has been a growing awareness regarding social exclusion. Considering the ageing population and the likelihood of older people being socially excluded, the aims of this article are to: (1) review existing studies concerning social exclusion in later life; and ( 2) identify how environmental and life-course perspectives are presented in studies focusing on social exclusion in later life. A systematic review in seven scientific databases was conducted to explore the peerreviewed evidence. In total, 26 articles were included and analysed. Findings describe the variety of methods, conceptualisation, dimensions and measures used in this recent area of research. Determinants of social exclusion in later life are discussed and life-course and environmental perspectives are examined. The discussion highlights the complex character of the concept and measurement of social exclusion, and the presence of general and age-specific dimensions of social exclusion in later life. The time and context relativity and the need for life-course and environmental perspectives on social exclusion in later life are discussed. Finally, future directions of research are discussed.

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“…Pinpointing exactly when the gerontological debate on social exclusion started is not an easy task. The early 2000s, however, would seem to be the period in which a number of articles debating the fruitfulness of the concept of social exclusion for studies of aging and old age began to surface (van Regenmortel et al 2016). This abridged section offers a chronological presentation of some of the most cited contributions to the gerontological debate on social exclusion.…”

A geographical multivariable multilevel analysis of social exclusion among older people in China: Evidence from the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey ageing study

“…Walsh et al. (, p. 81) summarised that social exclusion among older people reflects “the combination of demographic ageing patterns, on‐going economic instability and the susceptibility of ageing cohorts to increasing inequalities.” A theoretical framework to explain the factors that may lead to social exclusion of older people includes at least four perspectives: age‐related characteristics (including loss of paid work, low income and poor health – frailty or prevalence of illness due to ageing); cumulative disadvantage (vulnerable social position over the life course that leads to inequalities being more pronounced in later life compared with earlier life); ageism; and inadequate infrastructure and planning of living environments (Jose & Cherayi, ; MacLeod et al, ; Phillips & Feng, , 2018; Van Regenmortel et al., ; Yuan & Ngai, ). All of these features may limit social contact or participation of older adults in various domains of life, which results in older people being more vulnerable to social exclusion than younger age groups (Feng, ; Scharf & Keating, ; Tong & Lai, ).…”

“…From a geographical perspective, different dimensions are likely related to the environment of older residents in the “operationalization” of social exclusion in later life (Van Regenmortel et al., ). Older people may be more reliant on resources available in and around where they live, more dependent on the support of others locally and less able to adapt than younger adults (Muramatsu, ; Robert & Li, ; see also in Feng et al, ; Phillips & Yeh, ).…”

“…All of these features may limit social contact or participation of older adults in various domains of life, which results in older people being more vulnerable to social exclusion than younger age groups (Feng, 2011;Scharf & Keating, 2012;Tong & Lai, 2016). Nevertheless, studies of social exclusion among older people are still relatively rare and have mainly been undertaken in higher-income countries (Van Regenmortel et al, 2016;Walsh et al, 2017). International studies of critical, comparative and analytical perspectives of social exclusion are very few (Scharf, 2015; see also Walsh et al, 2017).…”

“…Based on theoretical and empirical evidence from China, we hypothesise that older people who are in the older age cohorts, rural residents, with lower levels of educational attainment and income, without any property, who are economically inactive, "empty nesters," with poor health are more likely to report social exclusion than those who are in younger-age cohorts, urban residents, with higher levels of educational attainment and income, owning property, economically active, and living with others and in good health (hypothesis 1). From a geographical perspective, different dimensions are likely related to the environment of older residents in the "operationalization" of social exclusion in later life (Van Regenmortel et al, 2016). Older people may be more reliant on resources available in and around where they live, more dependent on the support of others locally and less able to adapt than younger adults (Muramatsu, 2003;Robert & Li, 2001;see also in Feng et al, 2012;Phillips & Yeh, 1999).…”