How social and political participation in later life divergently impact on perceived health of older adults: a case study in Central Italy

Abstract

In an ever-evolving aging society, civic participation, including social and political engagement, can have positive effects on older adults’ health and wellbeing, according to the Acitve Aging framework. This study aimed at understanding the experience of civic participation of a group of Italian older adults, the perceived health outcomes and how social and political participation divergently impact health and wellbeing in later life. In 2025, 12 older adults living in Central Italy and aged 70 and over were asked to answer a semi-structured interview. The contents were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed. Civic participation makes interviewees feel mentally and physically active and useful in the community. Most of them have been socially and/or politically engaged since they were younger. For someone retirement disclosed new opportunities for civic involvement. While voluntary participation promoted respondents’ physical mobility, agency, and self-efficacy, political participation reveals a marked ambivalence: serving as a cognitive stimulus on one hand, but provoking emotional fatigue, alienation, and frustration on the other. Intergenerational learning and dialogue for strengthening civic participation in the communities is a common thought. The findindgs highlight the importance of avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach for promoting civic participation among older adults in Europe by taking into consideration the possible emotional distress that can come from political engagement. Frustration and stress coming from the disillusionment in policy and society can be overcome by involving older adults in co-participatory intergenerational stakeholders’ consultation tools, with the aim of informing evidence-based Active Aging public policies and health promotion strategies.